The Key...

TRIGGER WARNING: I'm going to talk about suicide. You've seen the post, but if you feel like this is something you don't want to think about maybe don't keep reading. Obviously, if you are depressed or have suicidal thoughts GO TALK TO SOMEONE NOW. Find a trusted friend, therapist, or suicide hotline professional. . . . There has been a lot of talk about guns and gun control lately, but an often overlooked aspect of guns is their connection to suicide. I think the effect of having guns present in our homes is under-researched, and there has been some research indicating the mere presence of a gun makes people more irritable/violent. The research is too sparse and/or shallow to prove anything, but it's something to consider. What IS a fact is that 90% of suicide attempts involving a gun succeed, compared to only 20% of other methods. Having a gun in the home of someone who struggles with depression can be truly life-threatening. In America, about 20,000 people die from gun suicide every year, and it's something we have to start talking about.