Suicide Plans Involving a Firearm and Levels of Suicidal Intent Among Firefighters

Background: This study examined if firefighters (an occupational group at elevated suicide risk) who have made a suicide plan involving a firearm reported higher suicidal intent than those whose plans did not involve a firearm. Methods: Participants included 173 firefighters (M [SD] age = 32.0 [9.9], 95.8% male) who reported having made a suicide plan during their tenure as firefighters. We used a self-report version of the Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview-Short Form (SITBI-SF) to determine the presence and nature of suicide plans during firefighter tenure. We used Item 4 of the Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised (SBQ-R) to assess suicidal intent. Results: Overall, 44.5% of suicide plans involved firearms. Firefighters who reported a suicide plan involving a firearm reported significantly higher mean levels of suicidal intent than firefighters who did not report a suicide plan involving a firearm. Limitations: This investigation relied on a cross-sectional convenience sample which limits our ability to establish causal claims. Conclusions: Firefighters who report a suicide plan specifically using a firearm may represent an especially at-risk group. Clinicians should assess for both suicidal intent and means during risk assessments and deliver rigorous lethal means safety counseling to mitigate suicide risk among firefighters.