Social Workers and Suicide: the Role of Client Firearm Assessment and Safety Counseling (IN: New Research in Mental Health: 2006-2007 Biennium, Volume 18, edited by D Roth & W J Lutz)

The primary objectives of this exploratory study was to document the knowledge, attitudes, & behaviours of social workers regarding client firearm safety counselling. Licensed social workers in Ohio responded to a mail survey. 704 usable surveys were collected. The findings indicate only 34 percent of social workers agreed/strongly agreed they routinely assessed for firearm ownership & access within the past 2 years of practice. Only 15.3 percent reported providing firearm safety counselling on this variable. (31 refs.)