The Narrative

Throughout the beginning of my work as the lethal means coordinator for the suicide prevention coalition of mesa county, my aim has never been to stay in my ivory tower of academia and collegiate cohorts, rather meet individuals that are impacted by the throws of suicide where they are. This means stepping into their world and hearing their stories. My reasons for this may seem obvious but none the less are important to denote.

Speaking with a number of individuals working in firearms sales, the overall distrust for anyone in government, higher education, or mental health work was a common theme when discussing the general personality of a firearm owner. If there is the slightest hint of the pompousness associated with collegiate grandee’s or those of government incumbency, a thick ice wall of defensiveness would suddenly form, blocking all means of conversation and discourse. Trying to check this at the door when entering these quaint firearm retail locations, I still felt this uptightness when introducing myself and my occupation. It was as if they were worried I would walk in with pitchfork and torch in hand, ready to denounce firearms and anyone associated with them. However, I believe this is no coincidence. Look at the demonization that has been cast toward all sides of heated quarrels pertaining to firearm ownership. Cultural perceptions have been polarized, legislation has been vilified, leaving a strained contention to remain.

This distrust for structure leaves the issue of lethal means safety and suicide prevention in a disintegrated state. Mental health professionals can write and rewrite literature and informational pamphlets but they will reach no one if there is no foundation of trust within the community for them to stand upon.

The Literature

The national intuitive to mitigate suicide has long stood on six foundational pillars established by the CDC. These pillars (lethal means safety being one of them) have been a corner stone of how suicide is clinically approached and continues to lead the charge in suicide prevention. Of these six pillars, one of the hardest to define and even harder to implement is the connectedness pillar. This module within the CDC’s suicide prevention plan aims to foster belonging and social capital, aiding to organically establish support systems and fellowships, decreasing isolation. This pillar is vital because through it, all other pillars are given a community to support. Lethal means safety cannot progress if there isn’t a body of people to bolster.

The Culmination

The issue with approaching this pillar resides in the very contention present between the firearm owning community and mental health world; a lack of genuine correspondence aimed toward true understanding. How are the issues of mental health and suicide to be discussed if our words must travel through a thick turbidity to reach one another? How are voices to be heard if they are clouded in polarized perception?

The first step of lethal means safety, then, is community enrichment and genuine connection. Let us acknowledge each others humanity and value before we try to discuss a topic with as much weight as suicide. Let us hold each others convictions and beliefs with respect so we may work together to resolve an obstacle that touches us all.

For this very reason alone, did I think it was appropriate to start this newsletter as an unbiased, non partisan forum for the issue of lethal means safety and suicide prevention to be explored. So we may move together to prevent death by suicide.

If you or someone you know is feeling suicidal, call or text 988. The National Suicide Hotline is staffed around the clock with certified members of the American Association of Suicidology. Or the Crisis Text Line, text CO to 741741 from anywhere in the United States, anytime. A live, trained Crisis Counselor receives the text and responds, all from a secure online platform.