National Public Health Week: Tuesday

Today’s theme for National Public Health Week is Violence Prevention!

National data show gun-related deaths are on the rise: in 2020, the U.S. was home to 19,384 homicides and 24,292 suicides involving guns. Those numbers are the highest documented levels in a decade.  In 2022, eight Logan County residents were ruled as death by suicide, and all eight deaths involving guns.

We recommend everyone urge policymakers to provide research funding that's on par with the nation's gun violence epidemic and call on lawmakers to pass commonsense measures that reduce the risk of gun deaths and injuries.  We should advocate for community-driven solutions that identify and target the root of violence and don't criminalize entire communities.

Using public health-based interventions can make a difference in the reduction of violence.  During 2001-2015, suicide rates were consistently higher in rural areas than in metropolitan areas.  Suicide rates tend to be higher in rural areas in part because there is greater access to guns, high rates of drug and alcohol use, and few healthcare providers and emergency medical facilities.  Reducing the mental health stigma in rural health communities and interventions such as safe storage of guns and medications has shown to reduce the risk of attempted suicide among adolescents.