Efforts to fight suicide include reducing access to lethal means
By: Phoenix O Connor
and last updated 2021-06-09 16:50:47-04
HELENA â According to the Montana Department of Public Health & Human Services, one Montanan dies every 28 hours by suicide. DPHHS also reports that one Montanan dies every 54 hours due to gun-related suicide; compared to other states in the United States, that is four to eight times higher than states with enhanced firearm safety laws.
To help save lives, the Lewis & Clark Suicide Prevention Coalition and Lewis & Clark Public Health have rolled out the Safer Communities Montana program. Some of the key focuses are reducing access to lethal means, such as securing firearms and prescription drugs.