OSU Study on Firearm-Suicide Prevention Among Women

A new study conducted by researchers at The Ohio State University and published in JAMA highlights critical gaps in firearm suicide prevention among women. Analyzing data from more than 8,300 suicides between 2014 and 2018, researchers found that nearly 40% of women who died by firearm suicide had no documented history of mental or physical health conditions. These findings come at a time when firearm deaths, including suicides, have risen nearly 50% over the past two decades, and gun ownership among women has surged—rising from 10-20% of new gun owners historically to about 50% in 2020.

The study underscores a significant challenge for prevention efforts: traditional health care settings may miss many at-risk women. Less than one-third of women in the study had documented mental health treatment, and only about one-fifth had known physical health diagnoses. Lead author Dr. Laura Prater emphasized the need to think beyond healthcare-based interventions, given that many women at risk for firearm suicide may not be regularly accessing medical care. Risk factors like intimate partner violence remain common in this group, highlighting the importance of engaging women through broader community-based strategies.

To address these gaps, researchers recommend expanding outreach to spaces outside traditional healthcare environments, such as programs serving women experiencing violence, community events, and other service settings where women gather. Health care providers, including those in federally qualified health centers, should be trained to have open conversations about gun safety and suicide risk with patients. With firearms present in at least one-third of American homes, the study calls for widespread, community-level education campaigns to promote firearm safety and suicide prevention strategies tailored specifically for women.

This research adds to a growing recognition that future health policy and suicide prevention strategies must be more inclusive and responsive to shifting trends in gun ownership and suicide demographics. Building integrated approaches that combine healthcare interventions with broader community-based outreach is essential to better identify women at risk, connect them with support, and ultimately prevent future firearm suicides. As firearm access increases among women, the need for innovative and targeted prevention efforts becomes even more urgent.