Thread by @davidhogg111

Just finished reading Guns and Suicide: An American Epidemic by Michael Anestis (@PsychBrownBag) here are some of the key take aways.

amazon.com/Guns-Suicide-A…

In 2014 the total number of people that were murdered by any method in the US was about 21,000. That same year about 26,000 Americans died by suicide using a gun

5,000 more people died as a result of Suicide via gun than the total number of people murdered by any method.

The book also talks about the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide (ITS) basically saying, that most often for someone to develop serious thoughts of suicide they have to feel hopeless about two aspects of their life, Interpersonal connections & their ability to contribute to society

One of the most common ways people attempt to die by suicide is by overdosing but 98% of people survive. While 85-90% of suicide attempts using a gun are lethal. This is important because 90% of people who survive their first attempt do not attempt again.

Their are serious problems with the mental healthcare system in America because theres a lack of therapists using evidence based treatments for suicide prevention and our current system focuses on making someone less suicidle not limiting access to methods.

Another problem the book brings up is that the group that commits suicide the most (men) believe that their peers will see them as weak if they go and see a therapist or talk about suicidal thoughts. Compounding to the point that men commit suicide significantly more than women.

The Israeli Defense Force had a growing problem with young male soldiers dying by suicide a couple of years ago and in response changed their policy to no longer allow soldiers to bring their guns home and saw a 40% reduction in suicide.

In Austrailia following the National Firearms agreement there was a 74% reduction in gun suicide

Read more about the ANFA here: rand.org/research/gun-p…

The solution:
-Waiting periods for all gun sales
-Participation of Gun groups in educating gun owners on how they can have a friend babysit their gun in moments of crisis.
-Teaching gun dealers about the warning signs of a suicidal person

-Having suicide prevention resources at gun shops such as pamphlets.
- Child Acess Prevention laws
-Laws requiring that guns be kept locked and unloaded
and more in the book.

We need a serious movement to talk about Suicide in America and help men realize that talking about mental health and suicide is not only ok but encouraged for those with suicidal thoughts to talk about it and get help. But this all has to start with people talking about it.

Also 50% of suicides are via gun.

Being tough or manly is not defined by “toughing out” issues that seriously affect you, it’s defined by having the courage and honesty to ask for help when needed and support others when they need it.