Symposia
Suicide and Self-Injury
Marian E. Betz, M.D., Other
Professor
Unviersity of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus
Denver, Colorado
Rachel Kennedy, MPH, RN
Research Services Senior Professional
University of Colorado Asnchutz Medical Campus
Aurora, Colorado
Bonnie Siry-Bove, MSS
Research Services Senior Professional
University of Colorado Asnchutz Medical Campus
Aurora, Colorado
Christopher Knoepke, PhD, MSW
Assistant Professor
University of Colorado Asnchutz Medical Campus
Aurora, Colorado
Reducing access to firearms for at-risk individuals is a core component of suicide prevention in military and civilian populations. Voluntary, temporary storage of personal firearms away from the home is recommended during times of suicide risk. The feasibility of this suggestion is unclear, however, for service members living on military installations. In the current set of studies, we used qualitative methods to explore opportunities and barriers related to voluntary, temporary, out-of-home firearm storage. Both studies involved one-on-one semi-structured interviews that were audio-recorded and professionally transcribed; team-based coding analysis of transcripts identified emergent themes. In one study, Military Health System (MHS) clinicians who care for suicidal Veterans and/or service members individuals identified that off-base storage options for service members vary in terms of protocol, oversight, and accessibility from that of on-base storage options. Participants further underscored that, in order to be effective within the MHS, lethal means safety counseling materials, resources, and messaging need to be tailored to the unique norms and lived experiences of service members. In a separate study, civilian firearm retailers/ranges and law enforcement agencies (LEAs) in two states spoke of their desire to provide voluntary firearm storage as a community service to help prevent suicide, often specifically stating a desire to reduce suicide among Veterans and active duty military. They did identify barriers to doing so, however, including liability and logistical concerns. Together, our findings suggest that – with legal and policy clarifications – firearm retailers/ranges and LEAs may be interested in and able to provide voluntary storage for service members. Partnerships between military installations and nearby retailers/ranges or LEAs may support suicide prevention efforts.