Suicide can often be an impulsive act--especially when tied to alcohol use, relationship turbulence, and sleep deprivation, which are all prominent risk factors in our region.
Research shows that making it harder for someone to access lethal means can save lives. Safety planning with a person at high risk for suicide, providing continuous support and supervision during times of heightened risk, and removing loaded guns, pills, and alcohol from the house can prevent a suicide.
References to support learning circle 6: Restricting lethal means:
Caetano R., Kaplan, M.S., & Huguet, N. (2013). Acute alcohol intoxication and suicide among united states ethnic/racial groups: Findings from the national violent death reporting system. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 37(5):839-846.
Mann, J. J., Apter, A., Bertolote, J., Beautrais, A., Currier, D., Haas, A., & Hendin, H. (2005). Suicide prevention strategies: a systematic review. Jama, 294(16), 2064-2074.
Van Der Feltz,C., Christina, M., Sarchiapone, M., & Postuvan, V.(2011). Best practice elements of multilevel suicide prevention strategies: A review of systematic reviews. Crisis: The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention, 32(6):319.
Yip, P. S., Caine, E., Yousuf, S., Chang, S. S., Wu, K. C. C., & Chen, Y. Y. (2012). Means restriction for suicide prevention. The Lancet, 379(9834), 2393-2399.