Co-authors: Lyssette Galvan and Christine Busse with NAMI Texas and Garrett Chase with Texas Gun Sense

As Texans, we pride ourselves on our resilience and strength. Yet, we face a silent public health crisis that demands our immediate attention: suicide. The intersection of mental health challenges and easy access to firearms creates a complex and deadly problem that we can no longer ignore.

The statistics are alarming. Suicide is the second leading cause of death for Texans aged 15-34, with nearly three in five suicides involving a firearm. This deadly combination of mental health crises and readily accessible firearms calls for a comprehensive approach that respects individual rights while prioritizing public safety.

Understanding the Crisis

Mental health conditions such as depression and substance use disorders significantly increase the risk of suicide. When combined with easy access to firearms, the results can be devastating. Firearms are involved in more than half of all suicide deaths, despite accounting for less than 10% of attempts. This high lethality leaves little room for intervention or second thoughts.

Veterans in Texas face a particularly high risk, with 78% of veteran suicides involving firearms. Young people are also increasingly vulnerable, with 22% of Texas high school students reporting they’ve seriously considered suicide. LGBTQIA+ youth are at even greater risk, with 59% nationwide having considered suicide and 23% attempting it.

A Path Forward: Combining Mental Health Support and Firearm Safety

To address this crisis, we need a multi-faceted approach that combines mental health advocacy with responsible gun ownership. Here are key steps we can take:

1. Implement Safe Storage Laws: Texas currently has no laws requiring unattended firearms to be stored securely. Mandating safe storage can significantly reduce the risk of impulsive suicides and accidental deaths.
2. Adopt Extreme Risk Protection Orders (ERPOs): These “red flag laws” allow for the temporary removal of firearms from individuals who pose an imminent threat to themselves or others. Despite 72% of Texans supporting ERPOs, our state has yet to adopt them.
3. Enhance Mental Health Services: We must improve access to mental health care, particularly for vulnerable populations like veterans and youth. Establishing a 988 Trust Fund can enhance and broaden access to services provided by the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
4. Launch Public Awareness Campaigns: Educating the public about the risks of suicide, the importance of safe firearm storage, and available mental health resources can save lives.
5. Learn from Success Stories: Utah, a state with high gun ownership rates like Texas, implemented a suicide prevention initiative combining mental health screenings and firearm safety measures. This resulted in a 6.6% decline in suicides between 2017-2019. 

A Call to Action

It’s time for an honest conversation about suicide prevention in Texas. We can protect both our constitutional rights and the lives of our fellow Texans. By combining responsible gun ownership practices with improved mental health support, we can create a safer, healthier future for all.

Let’s commit to implementing safe storage laws and ERPOs. Let’s invest in mental health services and crisis intervention. Let’s educate our communities about the risks and available resources. Together, we can turn the tide on this crisis and save lives.

Texas has always been a state of innovators and problem-solvers. Now, we face one of our greatest challenges yet. It’s time to bring our trademark resilience and strength to bear on this issue. By working together – gun owners, mental health advocates, policymakers, and community leaders – we can develop solutions that respect our values while protecting our most vulnerable.

The lives of our veterans, our youth, and countless others hang in the balance. We have the power to make a difference. Let’s act now, before we lose another Texan to this preventable tragedy.

October 2024