The Presence and Accessibility of Firearms in the Homes of Adolescent Suicides. A Case-Control Study

The presence of guns in the home, the type of gun, & the method of storage were all hypothesized to be associated with adolescent suicide risk. 47 suicide victims were compared with 2 control groups consisting of 47 suicide attempters & 47 never-suicidal psychiatric controls. Guns, independent of type & method of storage, were twice as likely to be found in the homes of suicides. The authors conclude that physicians should recommend the removal of firearms from the homes of at-risk adolescents.