Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
Shown is one of the gun locks that are being given away by members of the Quay County Health Council in an effort to curb suicide deaths or accidental shootings.
The Quay County Health Council is launching a gun-lock campaign to reduce immediate access to firearms in an effort to reduce suicide deaths in the region.
Quay County has seen an increase in the number of suicides over the past few years, and gunshots are the most common means of suicide deaths in Quay County and New Mexico. Suicide by gunshot is almost always lethal. Other types of suicide attempts have a better chance of someone intervening and preventing the death.
"Most people are only suicidal for a short period of time, and if it takes a few minutes for them to unlock a firearm and get the ammunition, that provides them time to refocus and maybe change their mind about wanting to die," said Brenda Bishop, Quay County Health Council coordinator.
Safe gun storage ensures that guns are inaccessible to those who may be at heightened risk for suicide or harm. Having firearms safely stored puts time and distance between someone experiencing suicidal thoughts and a highly lethal method.
The safest approach is temporary storage away from home, such as with a trusted friend or family member.
If storage away from home is not feasible, another safe approach is to store all firearms in safes and/or lockboxes with the keys or combinations kept away from the at-risk person. All ammunition should be kept off-site or locked separately. Gun locks can add an additional time barrier.
Most suicide attempts occur with little planning during a short-term crisis. The time period from when someone decides to take his or her life, then actually make an attempt, often is brief - for half of such people, less than 10 minutes; for 75%, less than one hour.
Because the period of high-risk often is brief, any steps to increase the time and distance between a suicidal impulse and a gun will reduce suicide risk.
Safe storage of medications is also an important lethal means reduction practice to avoid both intentional or unintentional harm.
"In addition to reducing suicide deaths, gun locks and safe storage can also protect curious children from accidental injury or death," Bishop said.
Research shows most people who attempt suicide and survive do not go on to die by suicide later in life. Thus, a life saved in the short-term is usually a life saved for the long term.
Possible signs of suicide include saying things such as "things will never get better" or "no one would miss me if I were gone"; physical changes; acting differently; or going through a tough situation. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255).
Anyone who would like a free cable gun lock can pick one up from the Quay County Assessor's Office in the Quay County Courthouse in Tucumcari or at the Tucumcari Police Department.
Health Council members will also have a table during the Red, White and Blue Clues Through Downtown Event from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday during Fired Up Friday at the Tucumcari Railroad Plaza.
Be sure to follow the Quay County Health Council Social Media accounts @quaycountyhealth and @qchealthcouncil to learn more about gun safety and suicide prevention.