Another gun related - and suicide - discussion

[lala]

www.nytimes.com/2015/03/10/health/blocking-the-paths-to-suicide.html?smid=fb-share&_r=0

This article discusses how it's the means to commit suicide that we need to address since often times the person shows no outward signs of distress. In fact, some of them wouldn't even get a diagnosis from a psychiatrist. 

This stuck out to me: “If the kids are under 16, the availability of a gun is more important than psychiatric disorder,” Dr. Brent said. “They’re not suicidal one minute, then they are. Or they’re mad and they have a gun available.”

And this: In fact, suicide is often a convergence of factors leading to a sudden, tragic event. In one study of people who survived a suicide attempt, almost half reported that the whole process, from the first suicidal thought to the final act, took 10 minutes or less.

For the Philadelphia area, this comes at the heels of a recent tragedy. A 13 year old boy, who attended a top private school, went missing after receiving an email with bad news about a class due to missing assignments. After an exhaustive search for 3.5 days, his body was found, not far from his house, with a self inflicted gunshot wound. The gun was from his house and had an ill-fitting trigger lock. Based on what we (the public) know about the teen, it was extremely surprising & unexpected. Obviously, there can be more to the story. 

I think a lot of families and districts here are using this as a catalyst to begin conversations.  

[momin2013]

I can absolutely see this happening. I remember what it feels like to be a teen, having moments of such incredible frustration or sadness that changed within minutes. Changing hormones are a very powerful influence on our emotions.

I'm already against guns in the home, though. Against guns period, actually, except for hunting (and not hunting for sport).

[cabbagecabbage]

I watched a PBS show once that studied people who were just depressed and people who had attempted suicide and found a big difference between them that suicidal people have trouble with impulse control and their brains react differently and with more urgency.

This doesn't surprise me at all. Considering how having guns in close proximity increases your risk of being shot anyway, it seems extremely logical in that heartbreaking sort of way.

[lala]

It sounds logical, but I guess the prevailing thought has been that it's more planned or the person has been suffering for a time, etc. Also the idea that if someone is unsuccessful they will find another way. It doesn't seem to hold true.