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      Gun suicide claims the lives of nearly 24,000 people in America every year an average of 65 people per day, and the problem is getting worse. Over the past decade, the United States firearm suicide rate has increased 12 percent. This trend is of particular concern among young Americans, whose firearm suicide rate has increased 53 percent over the past 10 years, and for veterans, who have a firearm suicide rate one and a half times higher than nonveteran adults. But there is hope. These tragedies are preventable, and one of the most effective life-saving interventions for someone in crisis is disrupting their access to a gun.

      12x

      The U.S. gun suicide rate is nearly 12 times higher than that of other high-income countries.

      Everytown analysis of the most recent year of gun deaths by country (2015 to 2019), GunPolicy.org (accessed January 7, 2022).

      3,100

      More than 3,100 young people die by firearm suicide each year.

      Everytown analysis of CDC, WONDER, Underlying Cause of Death, Five-year average: 2016–2020. Ages 10–24.

      86%

      Men represent 86% of firearm suicide victims.

      CDC, Underlying Cause of Death, 2016-2020.

      September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time for amplifying voices of survivors, spreading hope, and ensuring that individuals and families have access to resources to discuss suicide prevention and to seek help.

      988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline

      If you or someone you know is in crisis, you can call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org/chat to chat with a counselor from the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7, free, and confidential support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress anywhere in the US.

      Understanding the issues around gun suicide is an important way to take part in prevention, help others in crisis, and change the conversation.

      Defining the Problem

      Preventing suicide requires strategies involving individuals, families, and communities.

      Addressing Solutions

      Amplify Survivor Voices

      You can commit to elevating the voices of survivors from your own network or from Moments That Survive during September for Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. You can also share your own story.

      Abbi’s Story

      After giving birth, Abbi was diagnosed with postpartum depression and attempted suicide with a gun. Now, she’s is helping others through Moms Demand Action.

      Read Abbi’s story

      Van’s Story

      Van was a husband and father who was devastated when his marriage crumbled. He told loved ones he was going to end his life, then died by firearm suicide.

      Read Van’s story

      Cole’s Story

      Cole was a college student who suffered from depression. Two weeks before his 21st birthday, he died by gun suicide using his roommate’s unsecured gun.

      Read Cole’s story

      Stories

      After losing my father to gun suicide, the Everytown Survivor Network helped me realize that I’m a survivor, too.

      James smiles while wearing his Everytown Survivor Network shirt. Behind him is a sign that reads We Can End Gun Violence.

      When I was 15, my mother pulled me out of class to tell me that my father had shot himself and was on life support. He died at the hospital two days later. His name was Jim Russell, and he was a 43-year-old husband, father of two, and doctor in… Continue

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      Having access to a firearm triples one's risk of death by suicide.
      Gun suicide deaths in cities increased 11% over the past decade, and now make up an average of over 4 in 10 city gun deaths.
      Young people have the fastest-growing firearm suicide rates of any age group over the last decade. Bar graph showing the % change from 2011 to 2020 by age group: 10-14 (146%), 15-24 (51%), 25-34 (29%), 35-44 (9%), 45-54 (-8%), 55-64 (-1%), 65+ (6%)
      Temporarily removing access to firearms is a crucial and effective intervention to reduce risk of death by suicide.
      Nationwide, more than 60k military veterans died by gun suicide between 2005 and 2019.
      The US gun suicide rate is nearly 12 times that of other high-income countries.
      Each year, over 3,000 young people die by firearm suicide. These tragedies can be prevented.
      The veteran firearm suicide rate increased 31 percent between 2005 and 2019.
      Cities in states with the strongest gun violence prevention laws have about half the rate of people who die by gun suicide as those in states with the weakest laws.
      Cities with the most parks and/or walkable neighborhoods have about half the rate of people who die by gun suicide as cities with the least.
      The rate of firearm suicide among young people has increased 53 percent over the past decade.
      An average of 4,500 veterans die by firearm suicide every year—about 12 deaths a day.
      If you or someone you know is in crisis, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides 24/7 connection to free, confidential support anywhere in the US. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org
      Si usted o alguien que conoce está en crisis, la línea de vida 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline brinda conexión las 24 horas del día, los 7 días de la semana para obtener asistencia gratuita y confidencial en cualquier lugar de los EE. UU. Llame o envíe un mensaje de texto al 988 o chatee en 988lifeline.org

      Did you know?

      Every day, 120 Americans are killed with guns.

      Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. WONDER Online Database, Underlying Cause of Death. A yearly average was developed using four years of the most recent available data: 2018 to 2021.

      Last updated: 2.13.2023