Thursday, October 2, 2014

Reducing Access to Lethal Means and Preventing Youth Suicide

Colorado Researchers Present Innovative Approach at Public Educational Session

Photo from Flikr by Artist Greta Ceresini
Denver, Colorado. October 1, 2014.  While access to fire arms is a politically-charged issue in the U.S., the fact remains that in a recent study of firearm suicides among youths ages 17 and under, 82% used a firearm belonging to a family member, usually a parent. Most efforts to prevent suicide focus on why people take their lives; but the suicide prevention field has become increasingly interested in the fact that how a person attempts suicide plays a key role in whether they live or die. For this reason, reducing a suicidal person’s access to highly lethal means is an important part of a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention.

To highlight how this approach is being implemented in Colorado, the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Colorado is hosting an educational session on October 8th to learn about a means restriction education program at Children's Hospital. Amy Becker from Children's Hospital and Sara Brandspigel from the Colorado School of Public Health and Environment will present on this innovative suicide prevention program designed to restrict adolescent access to firearms and lethal medications. Preliminary findings will be presented and attendees will learn how the program may be adopted in other hospitals in Colorado.

This educational session is free and open to the public and will take place from 9:30-10:30 on October 8 at The Trails Recreation Center (16799 E Lake Ave Centennial CO 80016). Participants may call in at 712-432-0370 access code 597856#.

For more information about this event, please contact Jarrod Hindman at jarrod.hindman@state.co.us or 303-692-2539.
For more information about how restricting access to lethal means is an effective suicide prevention strategy visit: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/means-matter/
For more information about how restricting access to lethal means is an effective suicide prevention strategy visit: http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/means-matter/
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About the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Colorado: The Suicide Prevention Coalition of Colorado (SPCC) was formed in 1999, when concerned citizens set out to create a statewide agency with the purpose of preventing suicide and creating a resource network for those who were working to prevent suicide around the state. Today, SPCC’s membership of concerned agencies, organizations and individuals who are working in the areas of suicide prevention, intervention and postvention has statewide reach. The mission of the SPCC is to reduce suicide and its impact for all Coloradans through advocacy, collaboration and education. www.suicidepreventioncolorado.org

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