Using a safe to secure a firearm in the home is crucial to prevent access during a mental health crisis, especially among Veterans. The 2023 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report from the US Department of Veterans Affairs revealed that in 2021, 6,392 Veterans died by suicide, marking an 11.6% increase from the previous year. Firearms were involved in 72.2% of Veteran suicides, compared to 52.2% for non-Veterans. Alarmingly, firearm suicide rates for Veteran women were 281.1% higher than civilian women in 2021.
Access to lethal means significantly raises the chances of a fatal outcome from suicidal actions, particularly among Veterans. The Biden-Harris Administration identified lethal means safety, including secure storage of firearms and medications, as a top priority for reducing Veteran and service member suicide. Nearly half of all Veterans own one or more firearms, but 1 in 3 Veteran firearm owners do not securely store their firearms at home.
Research shows that having a firearm in the household increases the risk of suicide by threefold. Secure storage practices, such as locking, unloading, and storing firearms separately from ammunition, are essential in preventing suicide among Veterans. Firearms are the primary method of suicide for Veterans, service members, and their families.
During a mental health crisis, the duration of the suicidal process is often less than ten minutes. Safe storage practices increase the time and space between the decision to take one’s life and the ability to make an actual attempt. Removing firearms from the home is ideal, but if that's not possible, using cable locks, gun cases, lock boxes, or gun safes can help secure firearms.
It's crucial to store ammunition separately from guns and seek help from trusted individuals for secure storage. Some states have safe storage maps to identify secure locations for temporary firearm storage. Lock2live.org is a resource that can assist in making decisions about reducing access to lethal means.
By promoting secure firearm storage, implementing action plans, and increasing awareness and education, we can all play a role in preventing suicide. The Well Beings campaign supports mental health and wellbeing, aiming to reduce stigma and discrimination and change public discourse on mental health.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call, text, or chat 988 to speak with a trained crisis counselor. For Veterans in crisis, dial 988 and press 1, visit VeteransCrisisLine.net to chat online, or text 838255.
