LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – In 2023, 27,300 people in the U.S. died by gun suicide – the highest ever recorded – accounting for nearly 6 in 10 gun deaths nationwide. That means someone died by gun suicide in the U.S. every 19 minutes in 2023, according to a report from Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Violence Solutions and the Center for Suicide Prevention. The report, “Gun Violence in the United States 2023: Examining the Gun Suicide Epidemic,” draws on data from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In Michigan, the rate of gun suicide in 2023 was about 8 per 100,000 people according to CDC data, placing it above the national average of 7.6 per 100,000.
Who’s most at risk?
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According to the report, the lives of certain populations are disproportionately impacted by gun suicide, including the elderly, veterans, American Indian or Alaska Native Americans, men, white Americans, and people living in rural regions.
While the issue cuts across many demographics, older white males remain the most affected group. In fact, white men age 70 and older were nearly five times more likely to die by gun suicide than Black men in the same age bracket.
Nationally, the report also showed an alarming trend among Black and Hispanic/Latino youth as well. From 2014 to 2023, the gun suicide rate for Black youth (ages 10–19) tripled – up 245% – and now exceeds the rate for white youth for the second straight year.
Additionally, gun suicide rates remain notably higher in rural areas compared to urban centers. Researchers attribute this to increased gun access, higher alcohol use, and limited access to mental health care.
Lethal access.
The report goes on to say that despite accounting for a small fraction of suicide attempts, 90% of suicide attempts involving guns are fatal. “Guns don’t make people suicidal,” the report states. “But because they are so lethal, guns increase the likelihood that someone experiencing suicidal ideation will die in the attempt.”
Gun control, not mental health support given as solutions.
That is probably why, instead of focusing on the root causes of the suicides and using the report to recommend mental health interventions, it focuses on gun control measures such as safe storage laws, extreme risk protection orders (ERPOs) and firearm licensing requirements.
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Their companion piece titled “From Crisis to Action: Public Health Recommendations for Firearm Suicide Prevention” only discusses mental health issues briefly in their “Safety Planning” section. In one brief paragraph they say, “Working with the patient and family, clinicians can guide patients to identify effective coping techniques to use during crisis events.” They continue to say that safety plans should be personalized to each patient and developed collaboratively with the patient and their family to help the patient get through intense suicidal feelings.
The bottom line.
The data clearly shows a growing crisis, with gun suicides reaching record levels in 2023. While the report offers several policy recommendations, its primary focus is on firearm restrictions rather than deeper exploration of mental health solutions.
Experts say that addressing suicide prevention requires understanding the root causes of distress, not just limiting access to lethal means. As the report itself concludes, “America’s suicide epidemic – fueled by guns – is preventable,” and tackling it will require a comprehensive public health approach. This approach must include focusing on why people are struggling, not just what method they may use. Because without that, we’re treating the symptom, not the disease.
