National Suicide Prevention Month is a time to remember the lives lost to suicide, support those who are experiencing or have experienced suicidal thoughts and feelings, and recognize the individuals, families and communities affected by loss to suicide. It’s also time to raise awareness about suicide prevention, learn about risk factors and warning signs for suicide, reach out to friends and family members who may be struggling, and promote effective prevention efforts. Every person, whether you are a parent or friend, an educator or health professional or community leader, has a role to play in suicide prevention. As National Suicide Prevention Month comes to a close, I want to call attention to “lethal safety” as a critical component of overall suicide prevention. It is one of the most effective ways to prevent suicide and is known to save lives.
Definition of Deadly Security Means
Lethal means safe is an evidence-based suicide prevention practice that involves making a suicide attempt method less available or more difficult to readily access, thus less likely to cause a fatal suicide attempt. Putting time and space between someone experiencing suicidal thoughts and their access to lethal means reduces the risk of harm and can save lives. In the United States, the most common and deadliest method of attempt is with firearms. According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than half (55 percent) of suicides are committed with firearms. Nearly 90 percent of suicide attempts with firearms are fatal, compared to 5 percent of all other suicide attempts. Certain populations such as veterans are at the highest risk of using firearms according to the Department of Veterans Affairs report 71 percent of veteran suicides are with firearms.
Lethal Media Safety Engineering
Since the time between suicidal ideation and suicide can be rapid (often less than 10 minutes), making a firearm either less available or unaffordable during a time of crisis may make it less likely to be attempted. This time delay can allow someone to intervene or the person in crisis to seek help, rather than acting on suicidal thoughts, such as calling, texting or chatting with the three-digit number, 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or seeking services that may be needed at that time.
There is a misconception that someone at immediate risk of suicide will simply use a different method of suicide attempt. However, research consistently found this not to be the case. If one’s preferred method of attempting suicide is not available, People generally will not attempt to use a different method. If a person attempts suicide using a different method, a much less lethal method is likely to be used and then the person is more likely to survive. Surviving a suicide attempt allows the person to get the help they need and gives them the opportunity to thrive and live a productive life. Important, almost 90 percent of people who survive a suicide attempt do not later die by suicide.
Key Strategies for Promoting Lethal Safety
Lethal means safety is an important component of it National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. The following are strategies that individuals, families, and communities can consider for lethal means safety:
- Safe storage initiatives
Practice safe firearm storage: Individuals can practice safe firearm storage by storing firearms unloaded, with ammunition stored separately, in a gun safe or tamper-proof storage box or with external locking devices such as cable locks. During times of crisis or imminent risk of suicide, people should temporarily store firearms away from home (as permitted by state and local law) by storing firearms with family members or friends. in a self-storage unit; at a gun store, shooting range, or pawn shop. or by law enforcement.
- Effective policy and partnerships
Working with firearms retailers and shooting ranges: Suicide prevention stakeholders can work with firearms retailers, shooting ranges, and gun clubs to educate stakeholders about suicide prevention and deadly weapon safety. Efforts often include a focus on recognizing signs that a buyer may be at risk or seeking a suicide weapon, educating owners about safety, facilitating safe storage, and distributing safety devices. Report of the National Action Alliance, Lethal means and suicide prevention: A guide for community and industry leadersprovides insights into innovative ways to leverage this type of collaboration.
Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) (also known as extreme danger laws, gun control orders, or red flag laws) have been enacted in 21 states and the District of Columbia. These laws establish a civil legal process to temporarily prevent a person who presents an extreme danger to themselves (including suicide) or others from purchasing or possessing firearms. Depending on the state, law enforcement and sometimes family members, health professionals and school administrators can apply for an order. While laws are often viewed in the context of interpersonal violence, research has found laws to be useful as a suicide prevention tool. For example, analyzes of Indiana and The laws of Connecticut suggest that for every 10-20 orders issued, at least one suicide was averted. Because of their potential impact on suicide prevention, these laws are included The Surgeon General’s call to action to implement the National Suicide Prevention Strategy (PDF | 708 KB) and in his recommendations Federal Commission on School Safety (PDF | 9.4 MB).
- Education and Awareness
Educating Health Care Providers on Lethal Safety: Lethal means that security advisory is an important component of security planning. When someone is having suicidal thoughts, has attempted suicide in the past and is in distress, or has risk factors for suicide, their clinician should work with them to develop security plan (PDF | 226 KB), a short, easy-to-use plan written in the person’s own words. Safety plans include warning signs to look for, coping strategies, sources of support they can contact in a crisis, and how to deal with access to lethal means.
Lethal means that security advice should take place as part of the security planning process, as appropriate. This is a collaborative approach between the provider and patient in which providers first assess whether the patient has access to firearms and, if so, how they are currently stored in the individual’s home. They then jointly develop a plan to restrict access to these media until the threat subsides.
Clinical education in suicide prevention should always include a focus on safety planning and reducing access to lethal means. SAMHSA’s Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) developed the most widely used lethal weapon safety training, Advisory on Access to Lethal Means (CALM).
As Suicide Prevention Month draws to a close, we should remember that the need for awareness and action to ensure the safety of lethal means is an important suicide prevention strategy year-round. Creating a barrier between a person in suicidal crisis and lethal means allows time and space to reach out for help, such as by calling the 988 Suicide and Crisis Helpline. SAMHSA remains steadfast in its commitment to strengthening the crisis care continuum across the United States.
As we look beyond this month, let’s recognize that every person has a role to play in suicide prevention. Suicide can be prevented. SAMHSA will continue to support systems-level proactive strategies to prevent suicide by supporting critical technical assistance and grants in communities across the country and helping to increase knowledge and expertise in creating and sustaining mental health supportive environments and the well-being of individuals.
Let’s carry the lessons of Suicide Prevention Month throughout the year. Our collective efforts can and do make a difference. If you or someone you know needs support now, you can contact 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Just call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org
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