Texas Gun Sense’s Post

https://lnkd.in/gQaPNsDT  We applaud the Surgeon General’s advisory as much of his approach is focused on issues beyond guns and mental health as our society tends to quickly label mental health and guns as the reason for a gun related tragedy. The topic of gun violence needs to go well beyond discussions about guns and mental health. Since 2020, firearm-related injuries have become the leading cause of death for U.S. children and adolescents (ages 1-19), surpassing motor vehicle crashes, cancer, and drug overdoses. In 2022 alone, 48,204 lives were lost to firearm-related injuries, including suicides, homicides, and unintentional deaths. This is a devastating increase of over 8,000 more lives lost compared to 2019 and over 16,000 more than in 2010. Please see our article for further views on this issue.

My heart hurts reading this. I am a trauma clinician, now in gun violence prevention work. All I can think of is the Uvalde families who are reading this report. They don’t have to wonder if more could have been done to save their children. They KNOW more could have been done. And I just don’t know how you sit with that. My heart hurts. If all we do is produce reports to document the trauma instead of produce policies and practices to prevent the trauma, we have failed our children. We have to do much much more. https://lnkd.in/et9cs7Q7

Can there be any good news? Yes, if you're concerned about how we conflate mental illness with gun issues. Strongly encourage you to check out the research paper on PLOS ONE. https://lnkd.in/g-svXhQH "The prevalence of firearms in the U.S. – not mental illness – is driving the surge in gun deaths across the country, a new study concludes." "The research led by an Oregon Health & Science University professor looked at mental health conditions and firearm deaths in the U.S. and 40 other countries. It found the U.S. had 20 times more deaths by firearms than the other countries even when rates of mental illness were the same." 🔫 🛑 https://lnkd.in/gsC2fP-D

Take a stand, save a life!  Did you know that taking an active role in preventing firearm injuries can also help save lives from suicide? As a suicide prevention consultant, I am here to shed light on an important issue that affects us all. Firearms are unfortunately a common method used in suicide attempts, and by promoting responsible gun ownership and safety measures, we can make a real difference. Let's break the stigma and start a conversation about gun safety and mental health. Remember, it's okay to ask someone struggling if they have access to firearms and support them in securing their weapons safely. Together, we can create a safer environment for everyone by practicing responsible gun storage, advocating for mental health resources, and educating ourselves on warning signs. Spread the word and share this post to raise awareness about the importance of preventing firearm injuries and suicide. Use the hashtags #StandAgainstGunSuicide and #SafeAndSound to join the movement and inspire others to take action! Let's collaborate: https://lnkd.in/gPyRw4C9 . . . #aimeejconsulting #aimeejohnson #suicidepreventionconsultant #PreventFirearmSuicide #GunSafety #FirearmSafety #EndGunViolence #SuicidePrevention #MentalHealthMatters #SafeStorage #FirearmInjuryPrevention #AccessToLethalMeans #SuicideAwareness #GunViolencePrevention #SafeFirearmsHandling #CommunitySafety

“According to scientific research into suicide prevention, putting time and distance between a person who is thinking of suicide and the method they are thinking of using to end their life can be lifesaving. When someone dies by suicide, the circumstances are complex. But something that every firearm-owning household can do is to implement a strategy for increasing the time it takes to access a firearm.” Read more from Ryan Price, AFSP Director of Chapter Engagement: https://lnkd.in/eT3bG2zB

June is National Gun Violence Awareness Month! Last year, HCIF hosted a Regional Safety Forum, entitled "Addressing Gun Violence in the Hospital Setting". This forum featured a keynote presentation from Dr. Stanton Miller of Jefferson's Center for Injury Research and Prevention, focusing on workplace violence prevention in our health care facilities. The forum was attended by regional healthsystem leaders in patient safety and quality, public safety and security, and staff development and management, who had the opportunity to share their best practices and challenges relating to gun violence. Follow this link to read more about the key takeaways from the workshop: https://lnkd.in/e2PJSEkE

A new study led by Cassandra Crifasi, assistant professor and co-director of the Center for Gun Violence Solutions at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, found that compared to white counterparts, individuals who identify as Black had significantly higher support for several gun violence prevention polices. These include: 1) pairing officers with trained mental health professionals; 2) diverting individuals with mental health symptoms into care rather than arresting them, and 3) redirecting police funding to social services for those at risk of gun violence. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/e-qNUryS

I haven’t read an article in a long time that outlines the exact reason why we do the work that we do. When you see us gathered at a conference, when you see us talking about threat assessment, or preventing the next act of targeted violence, when we are standing on top of soapbox after soapbox after soapbox and then jumping back into the work …. This is why. To prevent the misery of the person who did this, to save the lives of those who would become victims, and to prevent the pain and tragedy faced by all the survivors. As I say all the time when we are up late and working, “We are not accountants. This can’t wait till tomorrow.” And it cannot wait for us to do more, in every one of our communities in every aspect and every level. Care, connect, fight for safety, be there for support, learn, and do your job with people in mind. Warning, this article is raw and real and documents the last moments of a truly good human. https://lnkd.in/g9Bae37F

“According to scientific research into suicide prevention, putting time and distance between a person who is thinking of suicide and the method they are thinking of using to end their life can be lifesaving. When someone dies by suicide, the circumstances are complex. But something that every firearm-owning household can do is to implement a strategy for increasing the time it takes to access a firearm.” Read more from Ryan Price, AFSP Director of Chapter Engagement:

Inaction is never a good option when behavioral red flags are waving Let adennill.com help your organization create a culture of preparedness. https://lnkd.in/eUqjgZWX