In the February edition of Pediatrics, Dr. David Grossman, senior investigator with Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute, provided commentary on a new study that addresses whether families with children and/or adolescents with elevated risk factors for injury have different ownership or firearm storage patterns.
Household firearms create a suicide (and homicide) risk to all children and adults in a home. Given the much higher relative risk to individuals with mental health conditions and substance abuse disorders, a focus on families with high-risk adolescents merits top priority.
In his commentary, Dr. Grossman explores the interaction between guns, mental health, and injury — and examines possible strategies for reducing self-harm risk.
