Breaking through barriers: The emerging role of healthcare provider training programs in firearm suicide prevention.

Suicide is a growing public health crisis in the United States (US).1 Firearms make up half of all US suicides and take an average of 20,000 lives each year – over 50 every single day.2 These firearm suicide deaths also constitute 6 of every 10 US firearm deaths.3 Firearms are among the most lethal suicide attempt methods, with approximately 9 out of 10 firearm suicide attempts resulting in death.4 Temporarily removing firearms from individuals during or in anticipation of a suicidal crisis makes it less likely an individual will die during a suicide attempt, as other means are less lethal.

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