Teenage Depression and Guns in the Home

It's time to speak up about suicides among teens & young adults.

Why?

• Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among teens and young adults.
• On average, 4 American teenagers commit suicide every day. 
• Many teens attempt suicide on impulse and there is rarely a second chance when a gun is used.
• Suicide attempts with a gun are deadly over 85% of the time.  
• Suicide attempts with drugs or methods other than guns have a greater chance of survival.  
• Most young survivors of a serious suicide attempt do not commit suicide later, and most survivors of suicide attempts are glad they were saved.
• Studies have shown that the risk of suicide is 4 to 10 times higher in homes with guns than in those without a gun.  If the gun is a handgun or is stored loaded or unlocked, the risk of suicide is even higher.

Here are five steps we can take together to save over 1,000 young lives a year!

It is best to NOT have any guns in homes where children or teenagers live, however, if there is a gun:

1) Keep it unloaded and locked up or with a trigger lock.  Store the bullets in a different place that is also locked.

2) Do not let teens have a key to the places where guns and bullets are stored.

3) If a teen becomes depressed or has severe mood swings, store the gun outside the home for the time being while you seek help!

4) Make certain to share this information with your neighbors, family, and friends.  We need to all work together to protect our children!

5) States where there are more guns have a higher rate of suicide.  Be sure to work with your state legislators to strengthen gun safety legislation!

Please share this email with your family and friends because TOGETHER, we can make a difference!

‪#PreventSuicide #StopGunViolence #NotAlone