GUNS & SUICIDE & THE PANDEMIC
I took a quick look at suicide deaths by gun vs non-gun. A very bizarre pandemic shift has been observed in 2020-2021.
Here is the graph for Americans 19-29 years old (will explain why); showing a huge jump in gun suicides.
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I took a quick look at suicide deaths by gun vs non-gun. A very bizarre pandemic shift has been observed in 2020-2021.
Here is the graph for Americans 19-29 years old (will explain why); showing a huge jump in gun suicides.
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This is the same graph for 8-18 years. while the lines didn't cross, you can clearly see a strong increase in gun suicides and no change in non-gun suicides.
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This is the same graph for 30-59 years. Again, a huge drop is seen in non-gun suicides whereas gun suicides lifted slightly in 2021 but not 2020.
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For older adults, we see the reverse, where gun suicides drop off tremendously in 2021 but non-gun suicides rise. in 2020, there was a drop in both but more-so for non-gun suicides.
Note however that the non-gun rate is following previous trends outside of 2020's decrease
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Note however that the non-gun rate is following previous trends outside of 2020's decrease
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Overall, the decrease in non-gun suicides was hugely significant, dropping 8.3% from previous rates.
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The decrease in gun suicides was much less pronounced (2.3%), though again it was significant it was not nearly as high as the non-gun rate.
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Weaknesses: the denominator i'm using here is the WHOLE POPULATION. I do not have estimates for whole american population with gun, and certainly not by age. if someone can do that it would really be helpful.
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Caution note: This is akin to "proportion of suicides by gun/non-gun", in that it has to be taken in the overall consideration of the complete suicide rate change (-4%). Gun users and non-gun users likely entirely different sets of people with diff circumstances. Careful!
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Why did i start with 19-30? because in suicidology it is *Well established* that many suicides by gun are purchased by young people specifically for the purpose of suicide. It's why 'gun purchase delays' are very evidence-backed measures to prevent suicide.
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INTERPRETATION:
I believe there is a relationship here; though obviously causation not correlation.
Canada's suicide rate fell by 16%. We provided much more economic support (direct $ to more Canadians), have universal health care, and have less guns.
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I believe there is a relationship here; though obviously causation not correlation.
Canada's suicide rate fell by 16%. We provided much more economic support (direct $ to more Canadians), have universal health care, and have less guns.
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US's suicide rate fell by 4%. They had far less economic support, the most inaccessible modern health care system, and more guns. I truly believe that correcting these things would have prevented suicides during the pandemic.
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"why are you hiding replies?!?!" gun peeps, I don't care about your right to possess guns AT ALL, it is not important to me. I believe that hunters etc should have access to hunting equipment including guns as needed, and that the US & Canada need MORE gun laws, not less.
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I promise you I will hide & potentially block anyone here who tries to come to this thread and fight about gun rights or whatever you think should be done to restrict "mentally ill's people's access to guns".
If you wanna talk without restrictions, QT & start your own thread
If you wanna talk without restrictions, QT & start your own thread
This data deep dive thanks to a twitter conversation (h/t @SPE247k)
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