Wisconsin Office of Children’s Mental Health Stresses the Importance of Safe Firearm Storage

November is the month many Wisconsinites enjoy holidays and traditions, including hunting season. While hunting can be a fun activity for many families and boost well-being, if it involves a firearm, safe storage is vital to prevent injuries including self-harm by kids.

The Wisconsin Office of Children’s Mental Health (OCMH) points to troubling information about firearms and youth suicide in its most recent Data Bite publication. Research has found that 8 in 10 kids who die by a firearm suicide obtained the gun from a family member (79%). Additionally, the vast majority of guns used in school shootings are obtained from a family member (76%).

“Guns are the leading cause of death for children and teens. We must all take steps to protect Wisconsin’s children,” said Linda Hall, director of OCMH. “Everyone can help protect children and promote youth well-being.”

• Families can assess whether they should keep a gun in the home or store off-site.
• Firearm owners can use gun safes – considered the gold standard in firearm storage – or use gun locks. Many health care providers provide cable locks or trigger locks for free.
• Policymakers can require secure storage – one of the most effective gun safety measures – and strengthen Child Access Prevention laws that penalize adults who fail to securely store firearms and/or make them available to kids.
• Health care professionals, particularly those who interact with children and youth, can implement a universal screening process into their routine and can be trained in strategies to prevent access to lethal means.

For children who are identified at-risk for suicide through universal screening, a medical staff member can quickly address firearm safety with both the child and their parent so that families leave the health care facility with a safety plan.

One program that does this is CALM – Counseling on Access to Lethal Means – a training initiative that OCMH profiled in its most recent Showcasing Solutions publication. CALM works to increase the time and distance between those at risk of suicide, and the most common lethal means of suicide – firearms. Children’s Wisconsin and Aspirus Health have trained hundreds of Wisconsin health care practitioners on CALM.

“November 22 marks International Survivor of Suicide Loss Day,” Hall said. “While we take time to comfort those who have lost someone to suicide, let’s remember that there are clear, actionable steps we can take together to ensure Wisconsin’s children are safe so other families don’t need to endure this unimaginable loss.”

See the Data Bite on Safe Storage.

See the Showcasing Solutions on CALM.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.