Suicide is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Americans aged 15 to 34 are the most susceptible. Half of these suicides are committed with a gun. Many people argue concealed carry contributes to the suicide rates involving guns. They believe if those individuals did not own a gun, they would have not committed suicide.
Unfortunately, that is often untrue. I know this because my family just experienced the suicide of a 15-year-old boy.
The reason people decide to kill themselves with a gun isn’t because it’s available. It’s because it’s effective. Actually, 85 percent of gun suicides are successful. Liza Gold, clinical professor of psychiatry at the Georgetown University School of Medicine and the author of Gun Violence and Mental Illness says the lack of information makes it difficult to control suicide. If people know about mental health and believe that their mind can make them do things like shoot themselves, they would be more likely to seek help for mental illness. Instead of resorting to their gun, they would resort to a mental health professional.
What needs to be addressed is that again, it’s not the gun that kills; it’s the person with the gun. If someone wants to commit suicide, he/she could swallow pills, cut him/herself, or find another way to end life. A gun may be effective, but so are other means.
It’s not concealed carry that is the problem with the increase in suicide, it’s the mental illness behind suicide. There has long been shame and embarrassment associated with thoughts of harming oneself. People don’t want to talk about it, and they don’t know how to talk about it. They let it sit within themselves, and then one day, they have enough and go through with their thoughts.
There needs to be more awareness for mental illness. The conversation should not be about concealed carry suicides but the mental illness that leads to increased risk of suicide. The fact of the matter is – if someone wants to take their own life, that person will do it one way or another. It’s not the accessibility of a gun that makes them do it. It’s the mental illness and their thoughts that make them seek a way to do it.
Call for Help
If you’re reading this article because you’ve been considering suicide, there is hope. People care, and there is a way out for you. Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255. Life has its lows, but it also has its highs. You will get there, as much as you don’t believe that right now. Call the number or get to a safe place with people around you immediately. Do not give up.
