THE SILENT CRISIS:
FIREARM SUICIDES IN PENNSYLVANIA
Firearm suicides are a devastating and often overlooked crisis in
Pennsylvania, claiming lives quietly and leaving families shattered.
These deaths occur in moments of despair, turning fleeting impulses
into irreversible tragedies. Unlike other forms of gun violence, they
rarely make headlines.
This silence leaves families and communities struggling to address the
issue and its far-reaching impacts. The ripple effects extend beyond
the individual, creating waves of grief that touch entire neighborhoods,
schools, and workplaces. Breaking this silence is essential to
challenging misconceptions and opening pathways to saving lives.
THE FACTS
MOST GUN DEATHS IN PENNSYLVANIA ARE SUICIDES
While many Pennsylvanians believe that homicides pose the greatest risk,
nearly 60% of firearm fatalities in the commonwealth are suicides. This stark
reality is often hidden by stigma and silence, making it harder for families and
communities to address the issue openly.
RURAL AREAS EXPERIENCE THE HIGHEST DEATH TOLL
Rural counties in Pennsylvania face suicide death rates up to three times
higher than urban areas. The impact leaves lasting scars on families and
communities already facing limited resources and close-knit social ties.
3X These losses often go unnoticed outside these areas, perpetuating cycles of
silence and grief.
HOUSEHOLDS WITH GUNS HAVE THE HIGHEST SUICIDE DEATH RISK
The presence of firearms in the home significantly increases the risk of
suicide deaths for everyone living there, regardless of age or background.
This risk stems from the uniquely lethal nature of firearms and the reality that
moments of crisis are often brief and impulsive. When a firearm is readily
accessible, an act that might otherwise be survivable with other means
becomes far more likely to end in tragedy.
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TAKE A STAND
To learn more visit www.ceasefirepa.org 215-923-3151
FIREARM SUICIDES
Why Prevention Matters
Suicide is not inevitable, and most individuals in crisis can recover when given the chance. By
understanding the role that access to lethal means plays in suicide deaths, we can focus on practical,
evidence-based strategies that save lives. Prevention is not just about addressing mental health but also
about creating safer environments for everyone.
Why We Need To Talk About It
This problem is worsened because we don’t talk about it. Stigma, silence, and discomfort around this
topic prevent important conversations from happening. By confronting these barriers, families, friends,
and communities can bring this issue to the forefront, notice warning signs, and offer support before a
crisis escalates. Breaking the silence can save lives.
WHAT TO REMEMBER
Preventing suicide involves recognizing that moments of crisis are often brief but can have lasting
consequences. By reducing the presence of lethal means during these critical times, we can create the
opportunity for recovery and healing. Understanding how access influences outcomes helps us take
meaningful steps to protect lives.
Firearms Are The Most Lethal People Rarely Switch Methods
Means Of Suicide Research shows that when access to a chosen
Fatality rates exceed 95%, while other methods method of suicide is limited, most individuals do
result in death only a fraction of the time. not attempt using another method.
Most Don’t Try Again Mental Health Solutions
People who survive a suicide attempt rarely Are Not Enough
make another, showing how survival can lead to Therapy and medication take time, and not all
lasting recovery. crises are rooted in mental health.
OUR MISSION The mission of CeaseFirePA is to end the epidemic of
gun violence across the Commonwealth and our country
TAKE A STAND
To learn more visit www.ceasefirepa.org
through education, coalition building, and advocacy.
