Addressing the Cultural Challenges of Firearm Restriction in Suicide Prevention: A Test of Public Health Messaging to Protect Those at Risk

Abstract

Objectives. Reducing access to firearms as a suicide prevention strategy is limited in the US today because of divergent cultural attitudes and political contentiousness surrounding gun restrictions. This research examined the effects of culturally-specific suicide prevention messages on the likelihood of restricting firearm access during periods of suicide risk.

Methods. Focus groups and key informant interviews were conducted with rural gun owners in order to develop a suicide prevention message that highlighted the importance of restricting access to firearms during periods of risk without threatening second amendment concerns. The effectiveness of this gun culture message, relative to standard suicide prevention messaging and a control condition, was then tested with a national sample of gun owners.

Results. Relative to all other conditions, respondents who received our culturally-specific message in conjunction with standard suicide prevention content reported the greatest likelihood of taking steps to restrict access to firearms. This tendency was enhanced for individuals who were more politically conservative, lived in more rural areas, and supported gun rights to a stronger degree.

Conclusions. Findings underscore the importance of attending to cultural factors in public health messaging. Messaging that respects the values of gun owners could hold promise in promoting firearm restriction for suicide prevention.

Keywords:

• culture
• firearms
• health promotion
• public health messaging
• suicide prevention

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This research was supported by grants from the University of Rochester’s Center for the Study and Prevention of Suicide (Promoting Firearm Safety for Suicide Prevention in Primary Care, Susan Keys, Lead PI) and from the Oregon Health Authority (Firearm Safety and Limiting Access to Lethal Means for Patients at Risk of Suicide: Promoting Effective Conversations with Firearm Owners in Primary Care Settings, Susan Keys, Lead PI).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the University of Rochester Center for the Study and Prevention of Suicide [Grant Number Promoting Firearm Safety for Suicide Prevention in] and Oregon Health Authority [Grant Number Firearm Safety and Limiting Access to Lethal Means]

Notes on contributors

Elizabeth Marino

Elizabeth Marino, Ph.D. Department of Anthropology, Oregon State University – Cascades, Bend, Oregon.

Christopher Wolsko

Christopher Wolsko, Ph.D. Department of Psychology, Oregon State University – Cascades, Bend, Oregon.

Susan Keys

Susan Keys, Ph.D. College of Public Health and Human Sciences, Oregon State University – Cascades, Bend, Oregon.

Holly Wilcox

Holly Wilcox, Ph.D. Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.