Lethal Means Safety and Suicide Prevention
Lethal means are objects that may be used by individuals experiencing a suicidal crisis. They include things like guns, medications, alcohol, opioids, other substances, ropes, cords, or sharp objects. Taking safety measures to restrict lethal means is one of the most effective ways to prevent suicides and is known to saves lives.
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), “lethal means safety is an evidence-based suicide prevention practice that involves making a suicide attempt method less available or more difficult to access immediately, therefore less likely to cause a fatal suicide attempt. Putting time and space between someone experiencing suicidal thoughts and their access to lethal means reduces the risk of harm and can save lives.”
In the United States, the most common and most lethal method of attempting suicide is by firearms. In fact, more than half of suicides are by firearms, and according to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 90 percent of the suicide attempts that involve firearms are fatal, compared to five percent of all other suicide attempts. Since the time between thinking about suicide to acting on it can be quick – often less than 10 minutes – making a firearm either less available or inaccessible during a period of crisis can make it so an attempt is not made. This time delay can allow for someone to intervene or for the person in crisis to reach out for help, rather than act on suicidal thoughts.”