One important way
to reduce the risk of death by suicide is to prevent individuals in
suicidal crisis from obtaining and using lethal methods of self-harm.
Examples
of actions to reduce access to lethal means include educating the
families of those in crisis about safely storing medications and
firearms, distributing gun safety locks, changing medication packaging,
and installing barriers on bridges.
Provider actions
Understand
that lethal means are objects (e.g., medications, inhalants, firearms,
sharp instruments, bridges, tall buildings, motor vehicles) that can be
used to inflict self-directed violence.
Share - Lethal Means
Safety (LMS) is an intentional, voluntary practice to reduce one’s
suicide risk by limiting access to those lethal means.
Share
statistics - 90% of the national and Veteran population who attempted
suicide using a firearm will actually die from that result.
5% of the combined mortality of all other suicide attempts nationally result in death.
The
suicide risk factors between those who do and do not live with firearms
are essentially the same. Access to a firearm and the lethality of the
firearm is what make the difference.
Suicidal crisis is often
very brief - about 25% of survivors said that they decided to harm
themselves and acted within five minutes.
Any action that can
put time and distance between someone in crisis and seriously thinking
of self-harm is key to helping the person survive the immediate crisis.
Provide
education on current programs to reduce access such as distribution of
gun locks, limiting medications in packages, erecting barriers at
bridges/high risk-areas, removing items that can be used such as
ligatures, and creating partnerships
with other organizations such as organizations that support gun
ownership.
Actions in practice
The Myth: A common myth in suicide prevention is that individuals who want to die will always find a way to do so.
The Facts:
This is not the case. Increasing the time and distance between someone
with suicidal intent and lethal means can reduce suicide risk.
Counseling to Reduce Access to Lethal Means (CALM).
Online
modules for primary care providers, addressing communication skills
with patients who are difficult to engage around firearm safety;
brochure for patients and providers, research brief.