Firearms and Suicide: Availability of Firearms in the Home Increases Suicide Risk

This article reviews research by Brent et al (see SIEC #920382) which studied the effect of firearm accessbility on adolescent suicide. It was found that guns were twice as likely to be found in the homes of suicide victims as in the homes of attempters. It was also found that even guns that were properly stored were associated with suicide by firearms. Findings from a study by Kellerman & Reay show that for every case of self-protection homicide, there are 37 suicides involving firearms.