Racial Differences in the Characteristics of Firearm Suicide Decedents in the United States

Focusing on the reported increase of firearm suicide among African Americans, this article analyzes the 1993 National Mortality Followback Survey to examine the association of firearm suicide with ethnicity, education, geographic region, access to a firearm, depressive symptoms, & mental health service utilization in decedents aged 15 years & older. After controlling for demographic, socioeconomic, & clinical variables, analysis indicates African American men were twice as likely as white men to use a firearm to complete suicide. Findings suggest the importance of screening for the presence of a firearm in depressed African Americans & reducing their access to firearms. In addition, ethnic differences in correlates of firearm suicide should be considered when designing prevention & intervention initiatives. (42 refs.)