Abstract

Background

Approximately 2,900 youth who die by suicide each year in the United States use a firearm. To inform lethal means safety counseling efforts, this study aimed to describe firearm access among youth deemed at risk for suicide in pediatric medical settings.

Methods

Youth who presented to one of four urban pediatric medical centers were screened for suicide risk and access to firearms. Suicide risk was determined by a positive screen on the Ask Suicide-Screening Questions (ASQ) tool. Firearm access was assessed via a structured questionnaire.

Results

This secondary analysis analyzed data from 1065 youth aged 10 to 17 years. Overall, 110 (10.3%) participants screened positive for suicide risk. Among those at risk, 28% (31/110) reported guns kept in or around their home, 8% (9/110) had access to a firearm, and 5% (6/110) reported that bullets were not stored separately from the guns.

Conclusions

Over a quarter of youth at risk for suicide reported a firearm stored in or around their home. To ensure the safety of young people at risk for suicide, clinicians should assess whether youth have access to firearms and conduct lethal means safety counseling with youths, as developmentally appropriate, and their parent/caregivers.

• HIGHLIGHTS

• 28% of pediatric patients deemed “at risk” for suicide in this study reported a firearm kept in or around their home.

• Among youth at risk for suicide, 8% reported having access to a firearm.

• These results add further evidence that it is important for clinicians to conduct lethal means safety counseling with patients and their families.

中文翻译：

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有自杀风险的儿科患者使用枪支的情况

摘要

背景

在美国，每年约有 2,900 名青少年使用枪支自杀。为了向致命手段安全咨询工作提供信息，本研究旨在描述儿科医疗环境中被认为有自杀风险的青少年使用枪支的情况。

方法

前往四个城市儿科医疗中心之一就诊的青少年接受了自杀风险和枪支使用情况筛查。自杀风险是通过询问自杀筛查问题 (ASQ) 工具上的阳性筛查来确定的。通过结构化调查问卷评估枪支使用情况。

结果

这项二次分析分析了 1065 名 10 至 17 岁青少年的数据。总体而言，110 名（10.3%）参与者的自杀风险筛查结果呈阳性。在面临风险的人中，28% (31/110) 表示枪支在家中或周围存放，8% (9/110) 拥有枪支，5% (6/110) 表示子弹没有与枪支分开存放。枪。

结论

超过四分之一有自杀风险的青少年表示，他们的家中或周围存放着枪支。为了确保有自杀风险的青少年的安全，临床医生应评估青少年是否可以获得枪支，并根据发展情况，与青少年及其父母/照顾者进行致命手段安全咨询。

• 强调

• 在这项研究中，28% 被视为“有自杀风险”的儿科患者报告称，他们的家中或周围存放着枪支。

• 在有自杀风险的青少年中，8% 的人表示拥有枪支。

• 这些结果进一步证明，临床医生与患者及其家人进行致命手段安全咨询非常重要。