Exploring the Association Between Suicidality and Firearm Violence Among Injured Adults

Purpose: Both firearm violence and suicidal behavior have increased over time and pose a serious public health concern. However, few studies have examined the link between the two. This study examined the link between suicidal behaviors, firearm beliefs, and firearm violence. Methods: This study included 371 violently injured adults (M_age = 32.58). Most participants were male (72%) and identified as African American (80%). Recruitment occurred from August 2021 to June 2024. Multiple regressions were performed to assess whether firearm beliefs (i.e., safety, emotional risk, neighborhood concerns, firearm presence, and social perception) predicted suicidal behavior and if suicidal behavior predicted firearm behaviors, and firearm violence while controlling for sex, age, and race. Results: Perceiving firearms as protective was associated with suicidal behavior. Suicidal behavior was positively associated with firearm behaviors (defensive and offensive) as well as firearm violence (reactive and proactive). Conclusions: These findings highlight overlapping risks of suicide and firearm violence and underscore the importance of integrated prevention strategies.