Preventing Youth Suicide Requires a Collaborative Effort to Promote Gun Safety

Suicidal crises often escalate quickly. Nearly half (48%) of people who made a serious suicide attempt said they had first thought about making that attempt only minutes prior, according to one study. This means that, during an acute crisis, a person’s survival may come down to what methods are readily available—and how lethal they are.

Teens and adolescents have lower suicide rates than adults, but much higher rates of seriously considering suicide (at 22% for high school students versus 4% for those over 18). Youth suicide rates have persistently increased since 2008. The good news is that the vast majority of people who become suicidal recover. 

The Jed Foundation (JED) is dedicated to protecting mental health and preventing suicide for teens and young adults. Because firearms are the most lethal method of suicide attempt (approximately 90% fatal), JED believes that promoting gun safety is integral to protecting the nation’s youth. 

Here’s what the numbers tell us:

• Firearms are used in approximately half of suicides for young people ages 15-24.
• States with higher rates of gun ownership have higher rates of suicide because of elevated numbers of firearm suicides. 
• High school students in rural areas report access to a handgun at twice the rate of their urban peers.
• Nearly 80% of the firearms used in youth suicides were owned by parents or other family members.

Importantly: Over 90% of those who make serious attempts and survive do not go on to die by suicide. This means that limiting access to the most lethal form of suicide attempt method will save lives. 

When someone is in a moment of acute distress, simply buying them time allows them to find support or treatment, sustain recovery, and go on to enjoy a fulfilling life. That’s why JED’s work involves collaborating with schools, communities, firearm owners, and others to reduce the chances of a young person accessing a gun during a suicidal crisis.

Saving young people’s lives is the common ground upon which caring leaders and community members can meet to initiate meaningful discussions and advance substantial change. Greater gun safety is possible through a collective effort between families, schools, gun owner groups, clinicians, and legislators.

The Jed Foundation recommends the following:

• Families must take an active role in preventing youth firearm suicides. Approximately three-quarters of suicides occur at home. It is not recommended that gun owners hide their firearms, because determined young people will find them. But the safe storage of guns will protect the young people who live in—or visit—their homes. 

Universal safe storage practices should include:

• Locking all firearms, ideally unloaded, inside a gun safe or another well-made lockbox and ensuring youth have no independent access to the keys or combination;
• Storing ammunition separately and securely; 
• Using cable or trigger locks when a safe is not available or as an added layer of protection when a safe is available;
• Securing self-defense firearms in a manner that provides rapid access for authorized users (such as a biometric safe) but limits access for all others (including those determined to be at heightened risk for suicide); and 
• Storing firearms away from home voluntarily and temporarily, if a young person at home is suicidal or clearly struggling until they have recovered.

JED endorses the establishment of coalitions that bring together thought leaders with diverse backgrounds, including epidemiologists, health care providers, gun owners, shooting sports organizations, educators, and policymakers. Successful examples include Virginia’s Lock and Talk program, Washington’s Forefront Safer Homes, and Utah’s Live On Campaign. Through shared information, pooled resources, and a common mission, these coalitions can develop and advocate for sustained policies, practices, and systems to improve firearm safety and save lives.