Household Firearm Ownership and Storage, Suicide Risk Factors, and Memory Loss Among Older Adults
Authors: Erin R. Morgan, Anthony Gomez, Frederick P. Rivara, Ali Rowhani-Rahbar
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2019)

Letters19 November 2019Household Firearm Ownership and Storage, Suicide Risk Factors, and Memory Loss Among Older AdultsFREEErin R. Morgan, MS, Anthony Gomez, BS, Frederick P. Rivara, MD, MPH, and Ali Rowhani-Rahbar, MD, PhDErin R. Morgan, MSUniversity of Washington, Seattle, Washington (E.R.M., F.P.R., A.R.)Search for more papers by this author, Anthony Gomez, BSPublic Health—Seattle & King County and University of Washington, Seattle, Washington (A.G.)Search for more papers by this author, Frederick P. Rivara, MD, MPHUniversity of Washington, Seattle, Washington (E.R.M., F.P.R., A.R.)Search for more papers by this author, and Ali Rowhani-Rahbar, MD, PhDUniversity of Washington, Seattle, Washington (E.R.M., F.P.R., A.R.)Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/L19-0602 SectionsAboutVisual AbstractPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE:Dr. Ertle discusses the implications of safe storage specific to older adults and the substitution of other methods of suicide if firearms are not available. Studies show that associations between firearm ownership and risk for suicide in persons aged 50 years or older are similar to those among other age groups (1). Risk for suicide is higher in older adults worldwide, but this fact is not solely explained by the availability of firearms. Of note, the case fatality of firearm suicide attempts is far higher than that of suicide attempts by other means (2). Although those who make serious attempts to die by suicide may use other means, these means are less likely to be fatal.Some countries with a lower prevalence of firearm ownership may have higher rates of suicide among older adults; however, variation in firearm ownership is not the only difference between the United States and Japan or China. Complex cultural differences in such factors as health care, socialization, beliefs held by older adults, stigma surrounding mental health, and honor may also partially explain higher rates of suicide despite limited firearm access (3).We recognize that limiting access alone is not sufficient to prevent all suicides; however, it does represent 1 potential opportunity for prevention.References1. Conwell Y, Duberstein PR, Connor K, et al. Access to firearms and risk for suicide in middle-aged and older adults. Am J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2002 Jul-Aug;10:407-16. [PMID: 12095900] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Shenassa ED, Catlin SN, Buka SL. Lethality of firearms relative to other suicide methods: a population based study. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2003;57:120-4. [PMID: 12540687] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Cheng ATA, Lee CS. Suicide in Asia and the Far East.. In: Hawton K, van Heeringen K, eds. The International Handbook of Suicide and Attempted Suicide. Chichester, UK: J Wiley; 2000. Google Scholar Comments0 CommentsSign In to Submit A Comment Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: University of Washington, Seattle, Washington (E.R.M., F.P.R., A.R.)Public Health—Seattle & King County and University of Washington, Seattle, Washington (A.G.)Disclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M18-3698. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoHousehold Firearm Ownership and Storage, Suicide Risk Factors, and Memory Loss Among Older Adults: Results From a Statewide Survey Erin R. Morgan , Anthony Gomez , Frederick P. Rivara , and Ali Rowhani-Rahbar Household Firearm Ownership and Storage, Suicide Risk Factors, and Memory Loss Among Older Adults Alan R. Ertle Metrics 19 November 2019Volume 171, Issue 10Page: 776KeywordsAge groupsDisclosureElderlyFirearm injuriesHealth careMedical risk factorsMemoryPsychiatry and mental healthSuicide ePublished: 19 November 2019 Issue Published: 19 November 2019 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2019 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...