Firearm Suicides Among Older Males: Means Restriction and the Role of Healthcare Providers

Gun control debate has typically focused on gun violence as a criminal justice problem but not a public health issue.  With 75% of older male suicides involving the use of firearms (CDC, 2013), gun control conversations must address the critical role social workers and other health care professional play in reducing suicidal behaviors. 

Purpose: This presentation will identify how gun control laws can help reduce firearm suicides especially among at-risk older males. In this presentation, a three-prong approach will be used to explain factors associated with older-adult suicides for policy and practice considerations. A discussion about building research strategies on gun control laws, gun ownership and firearm suicides among older males will be addressed.

Methods:

With the three-prong approach, first, a systematic review was conducted to address the epidemiology of older adult suicides as related to physical illness, social support, and firearm ownership. Second, evidence was demonstrated via secondary statistical analyses using the data from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System 2000 to 2013 and Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System in 2004.  Quantitative evidence will connect firearm suicides among older males to gun availability and gun control measures. Third, trend analysis was conducted to compare the patterns of firearm suicides among the general population and among the older males. Presentation on these data aim to provide evidence-based policy recommendations and practice implications.

Results: Males 65 and older not only have a high firearm suicide rate (31.97 per 100,000 people), compared to males younger than 65 (18.52 per 100,000), but they are also affected by higher case fatality rates from the use of lethal means such as firearms (91% resulted in death). The systematic review shows that gun control laws have reduced the overall suicide rates (e.g., Miller, Azrael, & Barber, 2012). In addition, 70% of older adults visit their primary care physician prior to their suicide. The findings from the secondary data analyses testify that states with weak gun laws and high gun ownership tend to have the high firearm suicide rates among males 65+ in the United States (F=28.59, p<.001, R²=.744). Regression analysis shows one percent increase in gun-ownership in the male (65+) population in the 50 states will expect a suicide rate increase of 47.279 per 100,000 persons (t=3.27, p=.002, R²=.767).

Implication: The current epidemiology of older adult suicides highlights the critical problem related to the rising trend of suicides and firearm access among older males. Examining current literature and policies that can lead to assessing suicidal risk factors among older adults, social workers must advocate policy changes through multidisciplinary testimonies about firearm ownership and gun control measures as predictors of suicidal rates among males 65 and older. Future research can test the use of suicide prevention strategies in the medical settings as potential mediator for reducing the high number of suicide deaths among the older adult population.  With healthcare professionals’ involvement, research will move toward the direction of producing a standard of care for older clients with firearm access.