Firearm Availability and Storage Practices Among Military Personnel Who Have Thought About Suicide

Bryan, Craig J.; Anestis, Michael D.; Khazem, Lauren R.; Harris, John F.; May, Alexis M.; Thomsen, Cynthia J.

doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.9160

Cited by 26 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 5 publications

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“…Thus, it is possible that when firearms are stored loaded and/or in a nonsecure location for other-defense reasons (Cleveland et al, 2017; Crifasi et al, 2018; Simonetti et al, 2018), in the context of an acute suicidal crisis, the risk to oneself increases. Indeed, firearms are more likely to be stored loaded and/or in a nonsecure location when an individual’s reason for ownership includes self- or home-defense (Simonetti et al, 2018), and firearm-owning service members are more likely to store their firearms unsafely when they are experiencing or recently experienced suicidal ideation (Bryan et al, 2019).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The intersection of PTSD symptoms and firearm storage practices within a suicide prevention framework: Findings from a U.S. Army National Guard sample.

Stanley

Anestis

2021

Psychological Services

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The unsafe storage of firearms is associated with increased risk for death by suicide. Therefore, efforts to elucidate modifiable factors associated with unsafe firearm storage have the potential to inform military suicide prevention efforts. PTSD hyperarousal symptoms are characterized in part by a heightened sense of being "on guard" for potential dangers and might contribute to an increased likelihood of storing firearms unsafely. This study sought to examine if more severe PTSD hyperarousal symptoms are associated with greater unsafe firearm storage practices. Participants were 327 U.S. Army National Guard personnel (M [SD] age ϭ 26.90 [7.45] years; 93.3% male; 77.8% White/Caucasian). Firearm storage practices were assessed via a structured questionnaire. PTSD symptoms (reexperiencing, avoidance, numbing, hyperarousal) were assessed via the PTSD Checklist-Military Version (PCL-M). Logistic regression analyses were utilized. Elevated PTSD hyperarousal symptoms were significantly associated with storing firearms loaded and/or in nonsecure locations, even after controlling for the effects of the other PTSD symptom clusters. Sensitivity analyses revealed that the pattern of findings remained consistent among participants with a deployment history and when controlling for the effects of agitation symptoms. Findings of this study suggest that U.S. Army National Guard personnel who experience elevated PTSD hyperarousal symptoms are more likely to store their firearms unsafely. Implications for military suicide prevention are discussed. Impact StatementPTSD hyperarousal symptoms are characterized in part by a heightened sense of being "on guard" for potential dangers. Among U.S. Army National Guard personnel who reported owning a personal firearm, elevated PTSD hyperarousal symptoms were associated with an increased likelihood of reporting unsafe firearm storage practices. Given high rates of firearm suicide among U.S. military service members, clinical efforts that bolster lethal means safety counseling approaches among military personnel with elevated PTSD hyperarousal symptoms may have important implications for military suicide prevention efforts.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The intersection of PTSD symptoms and firearm storage practices within a suicide prevention framework: Findings from a U.S. Army National Guard sample.

Stanley

Anestis

2021

Psychological Services

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“…10 Within the military, a preventive approach may be especially important because military personnel are more likely to own firearms 17 but the majority do not use safe storage methods. [18][19][20] Military personnel are also more likely to use firearms when attempting suicide. 21,22 Acutely suicidal military personnel are prone to unsafely storing firearms, 19 underreporting suicidal thoughts to military or civilian sources, 23,24 and failing to disclose access to a firearm.…”

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confidence: 99%

Lethal Means Counseling, Distribution of Cable Locks, and Safe Firearm Storage Practices Among the Mississippi National Guard: A Factorial Randomized Controlled Trial, 2018–2020

2021

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Objectives. To examine whether lethal means counseling and provision of cable locks prompt safe firearm storage relative to control among firearm-owning members of the Mississippi National Guard. Methods. This randomized controlled trial utilized a 2 × 2 factorial design (lethal means counseling vs control, provision of cable locks vs no cable locks). Follow-up assessments took place at 3 and 6 months after baseline. Data were collected (n = 232; 87.5% male; mean age = 35.01 years; 77.2% White) from February 2018 through July 2020. Results. Relative to control, lethal means counseling and provision of cable locks resulted in greater adoption of several safe storage methods over time. Lethal means counseling outperformed control (3 months: 55.0% vs 39.0%; odds ratio [OR] = 1.91). Cable locks outperformed control at 3 and 6 months on number of storage methods (1.41 vs 1.11; d = 0.29 and 1.34 vs 1.16; d = 0.15, respectively) and locking devices (59.8% vs 29.9%; OR = 3.49 and 58.4% vs 35.8%; OR = 2.52, respectively) Conclusions. Lethal means counseling and cable locks can result in sustained changes in firearm storage. Public Health Implications. The military may benefit from lethal means counseling, perhaps administering at point of entry. Trial Registration. Clinical Trials.gov identifier: NCT03375099.

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“…15,16 Furthermore, in some populations (e.g., service members), suicidal firearm owners are more likely to store firearms unsafely. 17,18 Thus far, it is unknown whether those who have and have not purchased a firearm during COVID-19 differ in terms of suicide risk. One study utilizing a convenience sample (N=1,105) from Amazon's Mechanical Turk conducted in the opening week of May 2020 found few demographic differences between individuals who had and those who had not purchased firearms in the initial months of the pandemic.…”

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confidence: 99%

Suicidal Ideation Among Individuals Who Have Purchased Firearms During COVID-19

Anestis

Bond

Daruwala

et al. 2021

American Journal of Preventive Medicine

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Firearm Availability and Storage Practices Among Military Personnel Who Have Thought About Suicide

Abstract: This cross-sectional study examines firearm ownership and storage practices among US military personnel who have experienced thoughts of suicide.

Cited by 26 publications

References 5 publications

The intersection of PTSD symptoms and firearm storage practices within a suicide prevention framework: Findings from a U.S. Army National Guard sample.

The intersection of PTSD symptoms and firearm storage practices within a suicide prevention framework: Findings from a U.S. Army National Guard sample.

Lethal Means Counseling, Distribution of Cable Locks, and Safe Firearm Storage Practices Among the Mississippi National Guard: A Factorial Randomized Controlled Trial, 2018–2020

Suicidal Ideation Among Individuals Who Have Purchased Firearms During COVID-19

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