Reducing Access to Lethal Means Prevents Suicides

If you have ever experienced the suicide death of someone you love, you’ll know what it is to question what you could have done to prevent it.

A suicidal crisis is hard to predict, and thoughts can escalate quickly. In fact, a 2009 study by Strauss, Hinterhuber, Deisenhammer, Ing, Kemmler, and Weiss, studied the length of the period between consideration and accomplishment of a suicide attempt. Nearly half of the patients reported that the period between the first current thought of suicide and the actual attempt had lasted 10 minutes or less. Thus, the time for intervention is short. It may not have been possible for you to stop it.

Suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in the US. Among individuals who commit suicide in the US, firearms are involved in approximately 50 percent of the deaths. The second and third leading methods of suicide in the US are suffocation (i.e., hanging, 25%) and poisoning (i.e., drug overdose or pesticides; 15%). Sadly, per researchers’ estimates, 30,177 Global War on Terror Veterans have died by suicide, compared to 7,057 who have died while deployed in support of the Global War on Terror. 

Reducing access to lethal means of self-harm for a person at risk of suicide is an important part of suicide prevention.

When, as a young man, Abraham Lincoln was depressed and suicidal, a friend said of him, “Lincoln told me that he felt like committing suicide often.” Seeing suicide warning signs, Lincoln’s neighbors mobilized to keep him safe, watching over him, and removing his knives and pistol. They pulled together the same kind of safety net gatekeepers can build today – and which included making sure our President did not have access to the means of suicide. It was said that when he again became depressed, later in life, he “dared not carry even a pocketknife.” – A.W.Shenk, Lincoln’s Melancholy

Reducing access to lethal means saves lives. For example, store firearms outside the house, put the key in a safe deposit box, or give the key to a friend until the crisis has passed. Lock and limit medications, especially high-risk drugs such as prescription painkillers, anxiety pills, amphetamines, sedatives, and tranquilizers. Store medications safely and dispense safe quantities as necessary. Remove alcohol from the house if its consumption exacerbates the likelihood of suicidal threats.

Social and family support are protective factors against suicide. There is no evidence that raising the topic of suicide increases the risk of suicide. Ask direct questions in a calm, compassionate, and matter-of-fact manner. Ask about current or past suicidal thoughts and behavior. Ask about intent and a plan. If you suspect intent, don’t hesitate to call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255.