“Firearms & Suicide: Breaking the Silence to Save Lives”

September is Suicide Prevention Month - time to shine a light on the realities of suicide, break stigma, and uplift hope. But one crucial piece of the conversation is often missing: the connection between suicide and gun violence. When we talk about gun violence, images of mass shootings and homicides often come to mind. But gun violence prevention isn’t just about those tragic events—it’s also about saving lives in moments of personal crisis.

The Role of Firearms in Suicide

Firearms are the most common—and the most lethal—method of suicide in the U.S. In 2023, nearly 49,000 people died by suicide, and 55% of those deaths involved a firearm. Each year, that accounts for more than 25,000 lives lost to gun suicide alone.

In a suicidal crisis, access to a firearm often means there is no second chance. Unlike other methods, the fatality rate of firearm suicide is extraordinarily high. But by increasing time and distance—through safe storage, waiting periods, and other proven measures—we can give acute impulses time to pass and prevent a temporary crisis from becoming a permanent tragedy.

The scope of the issue is staggering: in 2023, firearms were involved in 46,728 deaths in the U.S.—one every 11 minutes. More than half (58%) were by suicide. Among them were 1,252 young people ages 10–19 who died by gun suicide.

Prevention Through Gun Safety

The good news is that suicide by firearm is preventable. Years of research have shown that states and cities with fewer guns have a lower suicide rate. Responsible gun safety practices make a difference:

• Safe storage—locked, unloaded, and with ammunition stored separately—reduces risk.

• Temporary transfer of firearms to a trusted individual or storage facility during a crisis can be lifesaving.

• Community education about responsible gun ownership is a key component of suicide prevention. Evidence-based trainings such as CALM (Counseling on Access to Lethal Means) equip firearm retailers, shooting ranges, healthcare professionals, and policymakers with the knowledge to make informed decisions about safe storage, waiting periods, ERPOs, and other practices that save lives.

Community Action & Advocacy

Gun violence prevention groups, suicide prevention advocates, and healthcare providers share a common mission: saving lives. Collaboration matters. Partnering with firearm retailers, shooting ranges, and veteran organizations helps spread safe storage practices and crisis resources. Advocacy for policies that encourage responsible gun ownership while also expanding access to mental health care is essential in reducing gun-related deaths. If you are interested in more information on advocacy, check out Virginians for Change. https://www.virginiansforchange.org/

A Message of Hope & Responsibility

Preventing gun violence includes protecting those at risk of suicide. Each of us has a role to play—by practicing safe firearm storage, normalizing conversations about mental health, and sharing resources like the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Suicide prevention and gun violence prevention are not separate issues—they are deeply interconnected efforts to keep our loved ones and communities safe.

This Suicide Prevention Month let’s expand the conversation around gun violence to include suicide prevention. Together, we can save lives.

National Crisis Resources

In case of psychiatric/mental health emergency please call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest emergency department.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline - For Suicide and Crisis Lifeline please call 988.

Crisis Resources Across Virginia

• Arlington County 24 hr. Crisis Center: 703-228-5160

• Chesterfield County 24 hr. Crisis Center: 804-748-6356

• Culpeper County Crisis Center: 540-825-5656

• Fairfax-Falls Church Community Service Board: 703-559-3000

• Fairfax County 24 hr. Crisis Center: 703-573-5679, TTY 711

• Henrico County 24 hr. Crisis Center: 804-727-8484

• Loudoun County 24 hr. Crisis Center: 703-777-0320

• Prince William County 24 hr. Crisis Center: 703-527-4077 or text CONNECT to 85511

• Rappahannock-Rapidan 24 hr. Crisis Center: 540-825-5656

  • Walk-in:

    • Manassas office: 703-792-7800

    • Woodbridge office: 703-792-4900

Youth Crisis Hotline 2-1-1

Website: https://councilofcommunityservices.org/

Veteran Crisis Resources

• Department of Veteran Affairs - National Call Center: free 24/7 access to trained counselors for local resources

  • Website: https://www.va.gov/homeless/nationalcallcenter.asp

    • Phone: 877-424-3838 (text messaging accepted)

References:

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 2025

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2025

Kassabian, S., Gissen, M., & Kenny, J. (2024). Reducing death by suicide by addressing well-being and firearm access: A both/and policy approach. Families, Systems, & Health, 42(4), 651–655. 

Lemle, R. B. (2024). Bridging the sociopolitical divide: Transforming efforts to prevent firearm suicide. American Psychologist, 79(9), 1361–1375. 

Nordeen, J., Durham, C., Sumpter, A., & Thompson, S. (2024). An analysis of gun violence: Beliefs, perceptions, and personal experiences. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology, 30(4), 553–557.

Runyan, C. W., Brown, T. L., & Brooks-Russell, A. (2015). Preventing the invisible plague of firearm suicide. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 85(3), 221–224.

Wamser-Nanney, R. (2021). Understanding gun violence: Factors associated with beliefs regarding guns, gun policies, and gun violence. Psychology of Violence, 11(4), 349–353.

Weissinger, G., Myhre, K., Ruan-Iu, L., Van Fossen, C., & Diamond, G. (2023). Adolescent suicide risk, firearm access, and family functioning: Screening in primary care. Families, Systems, & Health, 41(1), 16–25.

Zabelski, S., Jameson, J. P., Peters, A., Sellers, C. M., Montanaro, E., Besse, S., & Cramer, R. J. (2025). Addressing firearm suicide prevention practice through recommendations for Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM). Professional Psychology: Research and Practice. Advance online publication.