Letter: Make prevention info more available

Thursday

May 30, 2013 at 12:01 AMMay 30, 2013 at 5:21 AM

Regarding your May 19 front page story

Regarding your May 19 front page story, it’s important to recognize that the rate of attempted suicide is much higher for methods other than firearms, but the success rate (if you can call it that) is much higher when a gun is used: Guns 85 percent successful, overdose 3-5 percent.
The NRA and other organizations promote gun safety training to prevent accidental injuries and death. That training could include the unpleasant issue of suicide, recommending gun owners and family members seek psychological counseling if they begin to consider suicide as a way out of their troubles.
Gun magazines and websites could have the telephone number of a suicide hotline on the cover or front page on where to seek help if suicidal thoughts develop. Even a general circulation newspaper, like The Bulletin, could put the hotline number on its front page or with news articles of interest to gun owners.
Although people may have suicidal thoughts over a long period of time, they generally act within 30 minutes of making the final decision. They should be made aware of prevention programs long before they finally decide to pull the trigger.

RON RATNEY
Boston, MA

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