LETHAL MEANS SAFETY AND SAFETY PLANNING
The third priority area for team Utah is lethal mean safety and safety planning. Suicide prevention efforts must consists of more than changing behaviors such as interventions and seeking help. Changing the environment can be an important and necessary prevention step in many situations. Service members, Veterans and their families have easier access to lethal means—primarily firearms—than the general population. Understanding the risks, safety options, and crisis response when it comes to firearms can be the difference that saves a life.
Goals
- Increase comfort and capacity of community partners to provide education and training on lethal means safety and best practice to SMVF they serve
- Increase comfort and capacity of health and behavior health care providers to provide education and training on lethal means safety and best practice to SMVF they serve
- Increase likelihood of SMVF who are willing to commit to safely storing their firearms by increasing knowledge for safe storage options
Main Initiatives
- Develop and conduct "Ask the Question" trainings for care providers and crisis responders to identify SMVF
- Modify all post secondary application and registration processes to screen for SMVF
- Implement trainings (ie. PsychArmor) to increase Military Cultural Responsiveness to school-based mental health and primary care/community organizations
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Free Gun Safes for SMVF
To address the risks associated with accessible lethal means during crises, it is crucial to reduce access to firearms, medications, alcohol, opioids, and sharp objects for those experiencing suicidal thoughts. By creating a greater time and distance barrier between individuals in crisis and these dangerous items, we can significantly decrease suicide risk and save lives. Utah is taking proactive measures as part of the Governor's Challenge to Prevent Suicide, offering free gun safes to service members, veterans, and their families through a partnership between the Utah Department of Veterans & Military Affairs, the Utah Department of Health and Human Services, and the Utah National Guard. LEARN MORE
When Firearm Safety and Safe Storage is Your Goal - Guide
This simple guide, produced by a partnership of various organizations throughout Utah, focuses on ensuring the safety of individuals at risk of suicide in your home. The recommended approach is to store firearms outside the household. Begin by watching an expert video highlighting the significance of safe storage. Explore a concise training module from Utah Concealed Carry classes for Firearm Suicide Prevention. For insight into warning signs and secure storage, view a short video by the Utah Shooting Sports Council. Enhance your understanding with the LiVe Well Suicide Awareness training. Discover off-site storage options involving trusted individuals, law enforcement, rental facilities, shooting ranges, and pawn shops. On-site solutions include gun safes, storage lock boxes, trigger locks, and removing key components. Prioritize safety using the resources in this guide. LEARN MORE
Parents can face specific challenges regarding firearm safe storage with children and adolescents in the home. LEARN MORE: GUIDE FOR PARENTS
Counseling on Access to Lethal Means (CALM)
Reducing access to lethal means, such as firearms and medication, can determine whether a person at risk for suicide lives or dies. This course is about how to reduce access to the methods people use to kill themselves. It covers who needs lethal means counseling and how to work with people at risk for suicide—and their families—to reduce access. LEARN MORE
