Title: Preventing Suicide and Homicide in the United States: The Potential Benefit in Human Lives

Publication Date: January 2009

What does it say?

If the three geographical regions in the U. S. with the highest suicide and homicide rates reduced them to those of the region with the lowest rates (the Northeast), 27 percent of all suicide and homicide deaths would be saved, or an estimated 12,942 lives saved every year.  Firearms were used in 55 percent of the suicides and 66 percent of the homicides during the study period (1999-2004).

Two factors differentiate the Northeast from the rest of the country: stronger gun laws and lower levels of firearm availability.

How can I use it?

Use this study to add to the evidence base that many gun deaths could be prevented were steps taken to make it harder for dangerous people to gain access to guns.

Citation

Papdopoulos, Fotios, et al,  “Preventing Suicide and Homicide in the United States: The Potential Benefit in Lives Saved,” Psychiatry Research 169 (2009):154-158

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