Self-reported Access to Firearms Among Patients Receiving Care for Mental Health and Substance Use

Firearms are the most common method of suicide in the US over the past decade. Primary care and mental health clinicians frequently interact with individuals at risk for suicide, but clinicians are often unaware of whether these patients have access to firearms. Julie Richards, PhD, from the Kaiser Permanente Washington Health Research Institute talks to JAMA Health Forum Editor John Ayanian and Deputy Editor Melinda Buntin about how responses to standard firearm access questions can foster collaborative planning for safe storage of firearms to improve suicide prevention.