ORLANDO, Fla.—A study found fewer than one in four Colorado residents living with children at home recognized suicide as the leading cause of firearm death and less than half thought suicide can be prevented, according to research presented during the American Academy of Pediatrics 2024 National Conference & Exhibition.
The study will be published online in the journal Pediatrics Sept. 27, the first day of the conference at the AAP National Conference and Exhibition that runs from Sept. 27-Oct. 1 at the Orange County Convention Center. While most research presented during the conference is preliminary, the study, "Colorado Caregivers' Perceptions of Firearm Safety and Youth Suicide," will publish in the October 2024 Pediatrics.
"We are all working toward the same goal of keeping our children safe," said the lead author, Maya Haasz, MD FAAP, Associate Professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. "With this study, we have identified an opportunity to educate families about the preventability of suicide and how limiting firearm access in times of crisis can decrease suicide deaths."
The study was conducted using data from the 2023 Colorado Firearm Injury Prevention Survey (COFIPS), an annual state-representative survey of Colorado adults conducted by the University of Colorado Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative (Emergency Medicine | Major Programs | Firearm Injury Prevention Initiative (cuanschutz.edu).
The 1,520 adults completing the survey included 512 caregivers with children younger than 18 years in the household. Survey questions assessed firearm storage, perceptions of firearm-related risks, and concerns about suicide among youth
Researchers found that Coloradans living with children in the home underestimated the risk of firearm-related suicide. Additionally, although nearly two thirds of participants were concerned about youth suicide in the community, only one third were concerned about suicide among youth in their own families. Finally, while those living in households with firearms believed that secure storage decreased risk of firearm injury, less than half thought suicide can be prevented and only 60% believed that removing firearms from the home would decrease the risk of injury in times of mental health crisis.
"This is especially concerning when many believe that suicide can't be prevented by measures such as limiting access to home firearms," Dr. Haasz said. "It highlights a crucial messaging opportunity – that there are effective ways to decrease the risk of suicide for our youth."
