Bridging the sociopolitical divide: Transforming efforts to prevent firearm suicide.

Abstract

Firearm-related suicide represents a significant public health concern in the United States, contributing to 55% of the approximately 49,000 suicide fatalities recorded in 2022. Research has demonstrated a robust link between firearm accessibility and suicide rates. These findings have prompted interest in developing interventions designed to increase the time and space between an individual's suicidal intent and access to firearms, allowing for acute impulses to subside. However, pursuing such measures has encountered resistance from factions within the firearm advocacy sphere, citing concerns about potential infringement on self-defense capabilities. Despite these apprehensions, an unprecedented alliance has emerged, bridging existing sociopolitical boundaries. The collaboration encompasses progun advocates, government officials, suicide prevention organizations, health care providers, and researchers, united in the shared objective of reducing firearm suicides. This article examines the evolution of this multifaceted collaboration and the supporting scientific literature over the past 2 decades. Notable initiatives include the development and dissemination of evidence-based lethal means safety counseling that is congruent with gun owners' values, as well as public education campaigns spearheaded by firearm leaders to promote voluntary secure storage practices among at-risk individuals. The review highlights the increasing willingness of firearm advocates, many of whom have personally experienced suicide within their social circle, to engage in partnerships with governmental agencies and other parties. Viewed through the lens of cultural markers, the landscape of firearm suicide prevention is undergoing a significant transformation, with the potential to positively affect population-level firearm storage practices and suicide rates. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).