Study: Teens With Higher Suicide Risk Have Greater Access to Firearms Than Non-depressed Peers

New research found teens experiencing depression and/or suicidal ideations had increased perceived access to firearms compared to peers without these mental adversities, and comparable rates of personal firearm possession. This is particularly concerning considering that easy firearm access increases risk of suicide and suicide continues to be the second leading cause of death among adolescents, and firearm suicide rates among adolescents have increased by nearly 50% over the past 10 years. The study “Firearms Availability Among High-School Age Youth with Recent Depression or Suicidality” examines data from a 2020 nationally representative sample of high-school teens (age 14-18) and their caregivers. The findings will be published in the June 2023 issue of Pediatrics (published online May 22). Among high-school-age teens, 22.6% reported having recent depression and/or suicidal thoughts, 11.5% reported personal firearm possession, and 44.2% endorsed firearm access. Teens experiencing depression and/or suicidal ideations had increased perceived access compared to peers without those mental health challenges. (Authors of the study defined perceived firearm access as an affirmative answer to either on- or off-property access.) There was no association between recent depression and/or suicidality and personal firearm possession. Among teens reporting firearm possession, those with mental health struggles were more likely to have acquired it by buying or trading for it and less likely to receive it as a gift. Researchers say these results highlight additional opportunities for prevention, both through the counseling of parents and teens from health care providers, as well as interventions from a policy standpoint that limit teen access to firearms.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.