Firearm Suicide Prevention Day

Firearm suicide is a growing public health crisis in America. On average, we lose 67 people to firearm suicide every single day — which is more than are lost to firearm murders and unintentional shootings combined. More than half of all gun deaths are suicides. Research shows this outsized epidemic is partly fueled by unsecured firearms. Firearm suicide is a part of “family fire,” or a shooting involving an improperly stored or misused gun in the home that results in death or injury.

Firearm Suicide Prevention Day, established by Brady and End Family Fire, will be observed on September 12, 2022, and held annually on the second Tuesday in September. The date is an opportunity to mobilize and hear from doctors, researchers, survivors, veterans, mental health experts, and more about the evidence-based role of safe firearm storage in preventing America's firearm suicide crisis. Partners include the American Psychological Association, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), This Is Our Lane, T Lock, First H.E.L.P., Everytown for Gun Safety, Los Angeles County Medical Association, Newtown Action Alliance, Ethan Miller Song Foundation, March For Our Lives, Change the Ref, Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), and more.

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.

ABOUT THE CONNECTION BETWEEN SUICIDE AND SAFE FIREARM STORAGE

Research shows that safely storing guns unloaded, locked, and separately from ammunition can prevent suicide and save a life.

• Unlocked firearms are far more likely to be used in a suicide attempt than firearms that are safely stored. In 75% of youth firearm suicides in which the gun storage method was identified, the gun was stored loaded and unlocked.
• Because suicide attempts with a firearm result in death 90% of the time, the safe storage of firearms is a crucial suicide prevention method. Storing firearms separately from ammunition has been shown to reduce the risk of firearm suicide, with some studies indicating a 61% decrease in the risk of family fire.
• Youth suicide is sharply increasing in America, especially among Black youth. A 2021 study of childhood suicide data between 2013-2017 found that guns were the second most prevalent suicide method used by kids aged 5 to 11, and in nearly every case, they got the gun from their home. In fact, about 4.6 million children live in homes with access to an unlocked or unsupervised gun.
• Simply storing a firearm safely is a factor known to reduce the likelihood of a gun owner dying by firearm suicide. Recent studies have noted that even a 20% increase in the number of American households practicing safe storage could prevent almost one-third of all annual gun deaths from suicide and unintentional shootings.