Today is Firearm Suicide Prevention Day
Bringing awareness to an increasing American tragedy
September is Suicide Prevention Month. For those interested in gun violence prevention, it’s a sad fact that, while school shootings and salacious murders get the most media coverage, the majority of gun related deaths in the United States are suicides.
Established by Brady United and End Family Fire in 2022, Firearm Suicide Prevention Day coincides with World Suicide Prevention Day, launched in 2003 to encourage worldwide commitment to prevent suicides.
As Brady describes, Firearm Suicide Prevention Day “was created to educate about America's growing firearm suicide crisis and promote the importance of storing firearms safely and securely… as an essential component of suicide prevention.”
Via Brady, “We lose 74 people to gun suicide in America every day — more than are lost to firearm homicides and unintentional shootings combined. Tragically, rates of firearm suicide are on the rise, especially among young people, with youth firearm suicides increasing by 57% over the past decade. This increase is even larger among Black youth who have experienced a 183% increase in firearm suicide.”
Check here for information and action you can take to help. And if you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which provides 24/7 free and confidential support. Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org.