Understanding the Risk of Firearms: Suicide vs. Homicide
Gun violence is a hot topic these days. Turn on the TV for any length of time, and you will hear stories of firearm homicide. But, did you know that firearm suicide is more common in the U.S? Learn about the statistics of this public health issue and if nurses have a role in the firearms debate.
If you watch the news or TV shows, you might be led to believe that there is a high risk of firearm homicide. Researchers from Northeastern University, University of Washington, and Harvard University conducted a study into the perceptions of gun violence and the leading cause of death in the United States. They found that the presence of a firearm in a home increases the risk for suicide, which is more common than firearm homicide.
So, what's behind our misconception about gun violence and how do you educate the community about the real dangers?
Looking at the Numbers
According to the Brady Campaign, the oldest organization in the gun violence prevention movement, 96 people die every day in the United States from gun violence. Of these 96, 34 are murdered, and 59 die from suicide. That means nearly twice as many people die from firearm suicide compared to firearm homicide. There are also 246 people shot daily who survive - 183 are injured in an attack, 49 are shot unintentionally, 4 are shot in a legal intervention, and 11 survive a suicide attempt.
A 2014 study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reported that access to firearms in the home increases your risk of violent death by suicide, homicide, or unintentional injury. There was a direct correlation to the risk of suicide among people who had access to firearms compared to those without access. The study also reported that the US has one of the highest rates of access to firearms in the world.
Could impulsivity and the ease of access to a gun place some people at a higher risk of committing suicide or homicide? The study suggests that it's possible. Yet, there are no hard data to support the claim. States with the highest rates of firearms, also have a higher percentage of firearm violence compared to non-firearm violence.
Is it a Public Health Issue?
According to the American Public Health Association (APHA), gun violence is an issue that is deeply rooted in our culture and must be addressed through a public health approach. Violence research should be conducted to ensure that guns don't fall into the wrong hands. APHA also believes that access to mental health services must be expanded to those who need it most to decrease the number of suicides by firearms.
Do Nurses Have a Role In the Firearms Debate?
Every day nurses in Emergency Rooms across the country come face-to-face with the gun violence issue. They might deal with victims of homicide, suicide, and unintentional shootings.
Nurses who work in schools have become far too familiar with the issue over the past few years. The National Association of School Nurses released a Position Brief in which they state that school shootings in the US are an urgent public health crisis. The NASN advocates for safe school environments for all children and recognizes the emotional and physical effects that gun violence has on our students. This doesn't account for nurses in the ICU, rehabilitation units, and many other settings that might care for gunshot victims.
Unfortunately, healthcare workers can fall victim to gun violence, too. Recent research has highlighted the prevalence of suicide among nurses. And, gun violence in hospitals and other healthcare facilities seems to happen at an alarming rate. In fact, just a few weeks ago, a young doctor was killed in the parking lot of Mercy Hospital in Chicago at the hands of her former fiancee.
What Can You Do To Help?
Gun violence is a hot political debate these days. No matter which side of the aisle you stand on, as a nurse there are a few things you can do to help keep patients safe:
Educate patients about the risks inherent in having a gun in their home. It's particularly important to speak to parents of young children about safe storage of all firearms.
Connect patients with mental health concerns to services as quickly as possible. Many patients have mental health needs that if left unattended can quickly lead to violence towards themselves or others.
Participate in violence prevention and intervention programs at your hospital or facility. None of us want to discuss or consider that a shooting could happen at our workplace, but unfortunately, the risk is real.
Write to your elected officials to make your viewpoints on the issues known.
Advocate for more research to be done to increase our understanding of homicide, suicide, and those who commit both.
What are your thoughts on the firearm statistics? Do you feel that nurses have a place in the firearm debate? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
I'm sure that fact gives a lot of comfort to the parents of the babies who died at Sandy Hook, or my personal friend, who's daughter was killed in the Santa Fe High School shooting last May.
It doesn't stand for Assault Rifle?? Well, THAT'S sure as **** a relief!
David Hogg, et al is controlled & funded by Shannon Watts, who is on Michael Bloomberg's payroll. One big check-writer, multiple AstroTurf organizations.
It is quite despicable that within hours of both the sandy hook and parkland shootings those who had an agenda were flying in schills and public relations hacks toplay a pre-recorded script that advocated abridging our rights. The proposed laws were already written. The "victims" were and are interchangeable. The agenda was waiting for the opportunity to be aired. Those facts can't be debunked. Read the stories about the "help" the parkland students received & how long that help took to arrive.
If the "victims" are interchangeable, their message isn't organic or grassroots- it's AstroTurf.
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Referring to murdered kids as "victims" is both obscene and defamatory.
I remember back in the early 1980's at Fort Devens in MA there was a increasing incident of suicide/domestic violence. The commander of the post mandated all privately owned guns to be kept in the armory room. I was an Army Nurse at Cutler Hospital there. Three months after that mandated order an Army Sargent killed his wife with a baseball bat. Just saying. Responsible gun ownership is the way to go.
If you look at the history in the UK when they took guns away they had to start taking away a lot of other things to include kitchen knives whose blades were longer than the recommended mandated size greater than 8 inches. Currently today because there is a rash of increasing suicides from cutting with knives whose blades are less than 5 inches to replace with the ceramic blades, soon it will be against the law to have any metal blades. Where does this end? Did shootings go down in the UK yes but there was a host of a lot of other crimes that went up, people will find another way to harm themselves or others. The UK continues to have some of the worst crime in the world and people are having a hard time defending themselves.
I have been a recurrent visitor to NYC since the late 1970's at a time when things were out of control. Then the city was 'cleaned up" so to speak, today they have some of the toughest gun laws that to me infringe on my gun rights and they also have other physical assault crimes going up to. Now days when you walk down the streets of NYC you see the police presence with the military style scaffolding on the streets and on side of buildings looking down at the public...(it makes me feel like I did when I was in East Berlin before the wall went down) weapon in their hands, on the news recently you see a man walking down the street sidewalk minding his own business and another man coming from the side pushing him into oncoming traffic, the man who pushed this stranger is still at large--I think it was NYC) My point is that you take away the guns people will find other things to inflict injury/suicide against others or to them selves.
Most recently many of you read about the woman who shot and killed one of the intruders who kicked down her door. I want that kind of protection.
Attempted Suicide/Suicide is a serious mental health concern but tighter gun control is not the answer to it all. I am for the fingerprint triggers, I lock my weapons up, I am a responsible gun owner and take this seriously. I use my weapon for 2 reasons. 1. Food (I go hunting) and 2. Protection not only for my property but from animals I may encounter like cougars, bears when I am hiking in the wilderness. I do not want my amendment rights taken away/rescinded or interrupted in a different way because of an emotional topic and per the CDC
"Suicide is rarely caused by a single factor. Although suicide prevention efforts largely focus on identifying and providing treatment for people with mental health conditions, there are many additional opportunities for prevention."
Gun control is an opportunity to education about the importance of gun safety not getting rid of guns from responsible and legal gun owners. Bad guys will always find another gun, another bat or another blade...
Gun lovers will never, ever think a gun is even a factor in homicide or suicide by firearm.
I'm done.
I guess i'll amend your post to gun fanatics. I have nothing against responsible gun owners who are open to honest debate and discussion, and care about keeping everyone safe. I have no use for the true fanatics who care more about their guns than children. I honestly think there is some pathology there, and that causes me concern for their suitability to own a lethal weapon.
I'm done, too. There is a poster here whose comments are so despicable that they don't even merit a reply. Let's not give him or her fuel for their delusions.
Yea, I guess I'll throw in the towel on this one too. It's a passionate subject. I appreciate the objective and civil contributions to the thread. Good article Melissa.
No, I was referring to Tomi Lahren, and her infamous "Geez, stupid lefties, AR doesn't mean Assault Rifle" tweet, as if that REALLY makes a difference in this debate. What it's called and what the letters stand for doesn't change what it is.
Yup. And what it is is a big, black, scary looking rifle that people hate.
Generally speaking, this is a never ending battle and it should not be. Left, Right or Middle everyone is entitled to their opinion without resorting to name calling, sarcasm, or nitpicking of the style in which others have chosen to post.
I am a responsible gun owner. I abide by all laws.
Farawyn
12,646 Posts
*love*