Firearms Access among Pediatric Patients at Risk for Suicide.
Nathan J LowryIan H StanleyAnnabelle M MournetElizabeth A WharffShayla A SullivantStephen J TeachMaryland PaoLisa M HorowitzJeffrey A BridgePublished in: Archives of suicide research : official journal of the International Academy for Suicide Research (2022)
Over a quarter of youth at risk for suicide reported a firearm stored in or around their home. To ensure the safety of young people at risk for suicide, clinicians should assess whether youth have access to firearms and conduct lethal means safety counseling with youths, as developmentally appropriate, and their parent/caregivers.HIGHLIGHTS28% of pediatric patients deemed "at risk" for suicide in this study reported a firearm kept in or around their home.Among youth at risk for suicide, 8% reported having access to a firearm.These results add further evidence that it is important for clinicians to conduct lethal means safety counseling with patients and their families.