Originally presented 12 September 2019
Firearms account for less than 5% of all U.S. suicide attempts but are responsible for over 50% of U.S. suicide deaths and nearly 70% of U.S. military suicide deaths each year. Research has demonstrated that the presence of a firearm in the home dramatically increases suicide risk, particularly if the firearm is stored unsafetly. This presentation will explore the magnitude and nature of the relationship between firearms and suicide and will then provide a data-driven rationale for why initiatives focused on firearms (means safety) may represent the single most valuable tool available for producing substantial and sustainable reductions in the national suicide rate.
Learning Objectives:
- Appraise the magnitude of the relationship between firearms and suicide.
- Describe the role of firearms in suicide as outlined in the ideation-to-action framework.
- Articulate the evidence supporting means safety as a suicide prevention tool.
