The plan will involve public awareness campaigns.
President Biden’s administration is putting forth a new initiative to reduce suicides by gun and counter the significant increases in suicides by members of the military and veterans. In making their announcement Tuesday, White House officials say it is an unprecedented focus by the federal government toward reducing the risk of suicides.
The plan calls for federal agencies, including the Defense Department, Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, Health and Human Services, Veterans Affairs, and the Department of Transportation’s emergency medical services office to create public awareness through campaigns to encourage safe storage of firearms and training for counselors, crisis responders, and others.
As part of the plan, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives will distribute a guide for firearms dealers that spells out both safety steps that are required under the law and additional steps the government recommends.
The federal government will also create maps to help people find places to safely store guns outside their homes. They will expand efforts inside the Department of Veterans Affairs focused on suicide prevention and safety training, along with training for family members of people who could be at higher risk for suicide.
Suicide is the tenth leading cause of death in the United States for all ages. Men are more apt to take their own lives than women. In the military, suicides outpace deaths that occur during military operations. In addition, the contributors of physical distancing, economic stress, barriers to mental health treatment, and anxiety increased the suicide rate during the COVID pandemic.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For the president and his administration as they implement the new federal program to reduce suicide by firearm.
- For individuals who may be considering taking their own lives.
- For the family of God to reach out to those in their paths who are experiencing hopelessness.
Sources: Newsmax, Psy.com, SoldierSuicide.org
