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- 9 - accessHealthNews.net Fall Special Edition 2021 Volume 8 | Issue No. 49 A lthough many factors contribute to high rates of suicide in Missouri, the turning point between suicidal ideation and completion is access to lethal means. Suicide by firearm is the leading cause of death for people 10 to 34 years old, a rate that continues to increase. Of youth suicides, 82% of them used a firearm that belonged to a family member. The Safer Homes Collaborative (SHC) brings together individuals and organizations with a broad range of views on gun ownership who share a commitment to safety and preventing suicide. The group includes gun shop owners and firearm instructors, injury prevention and mental health practitioners, and public health researchers, among other committed volunteers. Secure storage of firearms is the most important preventive safety measure families can take to help decrease the growing rate of suicides, especially among adolescents, in Missouri. Katie Ellison, project director at SHC and trainer of a program called Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM), hosted a two-part breakout session during the Missouri Rural Health Association's Get Link'd 2021 Conference held Aug. 17-19. The first presentation, "Gun Violence Prevention," discussed the importance of suicide prevention and the increased risk involved in having firearms in the home. The second presentation, "CALM: Conversations on Access to Lethal Means," provided an overview of the CALM program's goals to educate the gun community about warning signs of suicide and protecting vulnerable individuals in their home. SAFER HOMES COLLABORATIVE MISSION SHC is focused on firearm suicide prevention and firearm violence. It is not an anti-gun organization, but rather focuses on educating Missouri residents about firearm-related injuries and deaths and how local communities can intervene to help prevent further loss. Partnerships with firearm retailers focus on educating customers about how safely storing firearms can be key in preventing suicide. SHC also trains gun owners, retailers, and community members about the dangers of easy access to lethal means, while also shifting the narrative toward a higher awareness of suicide by firearm within the gun community. A recent survey by SHC on gun violence and gun safety showed an alarming gap between perception and reality. Many participants falsely believed that homicide is the leading type of death by firearm, while very few people on the survey understood that suicide, and access to firearms, posed a greater risk to their safety. People experiencing suicidal thoughts may not understand the reason for their feelings, may feel ashamed or stigmatized, or may otherwise isolate themselves. Adolescents living in homes with easy access to firearms are particularly at greater risk of suicide and may be even more difficult to recognize warning signs in. Proper firearm handling and storage is a crucial first step in helping prevent suicide. If someone is speaking about suicide or showing signs of being suicidal, remove guns from the home, even if only temporarily. Ammunition should immediately be stored separately from the gun if possible. Off-site storage at another home, gun range, or storage unit are the safest options. Otherwise, make sure all firearms are properly stored and locked at all times. Rural communities have a rural-strong attitude and find pride in handling their own, but sometimes where pride lacks, shame fills in. People struggling with mental health may feel misunderstood and isolated or even be turned away by their own faith, preventing many from speaking up before it's too late.

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