212: Talking About Firearm Suicide Risks (Even Though it's Hard)

Dr. Doreen Marshall of AFSP — the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention — is back in studio with hosts Kelly and JJ, this time answering your listener questions. Doreen brilliantly broke down how best to handle complicated situations like the following:

• "I've recently lost my partner — how can I possibly handle the holidays?"
• "My child lost a friend to firearm suicide; how should I talk to her about this?"
• "My parents are gun owners, but also elderly and experiencing health issues and mental decline. How can I bring up a conversation about possibly removing their guns?"

and

• "I lost a friend a few years ago, and still want to know why he felt like he couldn’t come to me...Why didn’t he? And what can I do to feel better?”

If you're a survivor of suicide loss, have a survivor in your life, are struggling, or are concerned about suicide prevention (and truly, who among us doesn't fit into at least one of these categories?), this is an essential episode for you.

Want to get involved?
Urge your senators to expand and strengthen background checks.
Join a Brady chapter near you and sign up to attend our new volunteer session.

Further reading:
AFSP chapters and their work (AFSP)
I've lost someone (AFSP)
What Survivors of Suicide Want You to Know (Maryland SPIN)