Firearms and Suicide Risk

DEFINITION

• Suicide is defined as "death caused by self-directed injurious behavior with an intent to die as a result of the behavior".[1]
• Suicide was among the leading causes of death in the U.S. in 2023 and the second leading cause of death for young Americans (aged 10-39).
  • Firearms accounted for approximately one-half (24,292; 53%) of suicides in 2020.[2]
  • Firearm suicides comprised about 58% of gun deaths in 2023.[3]
  • Completed suicides are predominantly male (78%); suicide rates are over 3.5 times higher in males than females.[4]
    • Males are roughly 4x more likely than females to die by suicide, although females attempt suicide 3x as often.[2]
    • This discrepancy is usually credited to the male preference for more fatal methods of suicide attempt, chiefly firearms; in 2009, there was a 90.9% case fatality in men vs. 70% in women for firearm-related suicides.[5]
• The U.S. has the highest rate of firearm ownership per capita globally. It is estimated that one out of every three U.S. households contains a firearm.[6] Two-thirds of all gun deaths are suicides.[7]
  • Unsurprisingly, firearms (particularly handguns) are the most common means of suicide, representing almost half of all suicides, more than all other methods combined.[2]
    • ​​Firearm use is more common in older adults (especially men) and accounts for over 70% of all suicide deaths for older adults.[8]
• Firearms are not only the most common method of suicide but also the most lethal, with an 85% fatality rate[2](see Graph).
• Gun ownership is tightly positively correlated with the suicide rate.[7]