Prevention of Firearms Death and Injury among Youth

1. Prevention of Firearms Death and Injury among Youth

2. Overview • Background • Problem : Firearms and Youth • Risk Factors • Stakeholder Roles • Tools • Next Steps

3. Approach • to develop community based tools which can be used to support implementation of the firearms law in Quebec • focus on vulnerable groups • intervention models - for urban and rural contexts.

4. Firearm death • Public health experts view firearm death like disease • firearm death has common cause availability and use of firearms

5. Firearms and Youth • suicide • injury and accidental death • family violence • young offenders: taxing, gang activity

6. Objectives Understand youth suicide and victimisation with firearms • The Problem • The Risk factors • Interventions • Implementation issues • Evaluation

7. Problem:Misconceptions Some misconceptions are that: • Only criminals, gangs misuse firearms • Problem is handguns not rifles and shotguns • Homicide is major cause of death with firearms (not suicide)

8. PROBLEM:Suicide CANADA • Suicide in Canada: 3760 per year • Second leading cause of death in 15-24 year olds • Firearms are the most common instrument for males (25%)

9. Suicide Quebec • 1300 suicides, 1/3 of total in Canada • 2nd highest rate in world • 1/3 of suicides with firearms - most common is .22 rifle • males, youth and elderly at risk • particular problem in rural areas • first nations in Quebec high risk group

10. Suicide - Youth • Leading cause of death of 15-24 year olds in Quebec • annual average firearm suicides for youth • Canada -155 (rate is 3.56) • Quebec- 46 (rate is 4.49)

11. Problem: Family Violence • 30% of spousal murders are with firearms • 50% of teens killed in family violence with firearms • 80% are legally owned firearms • presence of firearms in violent families : tool of intimidation • escalation of violence into murder increases with firearms • effect on children of violence: future victims, aggressors

12. Youth Victimisation • Canada: 23% victims of crime 15-24 year old (11% of population) • Youth is largest group of victims of violent crime in Montreal • bullying and victimisation can lead to victims becoming violent with guns (Taber, Alberta; Colombine, CSDM incidents)

13. Youth Offenders and Gangs • Montreal: Gang gun violence (1997 - 4 murders, 11 attempted murders) • firearms play role in escalation of intimidation and violence • certain Montreal schools find guns or replicas monthly

14. Risk Factors Suicide- General • Personal Predisposition • (Previous suicidal behaviour, mental disorders, substance abuse • Social environment (lack of social network, unemployment, physical or sexual abuse) • Life event (death, illness, humiliating events, interpersonal problems)

15. Risk Factors : Youth Suicide • Personal Predisposition - poor adaptation, learning difficulties, impulsivity previous suicidal behaviour, mental disorders, difficulty with sexual orientation,chronic difficulty with peer relations • Social environment (lack of social network, mental disorders in family, unemployment, physical or sexual abuse, neglect) • Life event (death, divorce, rejection of parents, substance use, academic failure, pressure, interpersonal problems)

16. Risk Factors :Youth Violence • (previous points) • aggression, anti-social behaviour • family violence • poor parenting: lack of emotional interaction, lack of parental supervision, inconsistant, harsh discipline • impulsivity, desire for power, imitative

17. Lethality Model Factors Affecting the Frequency of Violent Events Incidence of Violence Injury Outcomes Factors Affecting the Severity of Violent Incidents GUNS

18. Links to firearm access • Risk of suicide in urban homes with guns: 5x increase • Risk of homicide in urban homes with guns: 3x increase • Regional variations in Canada • BUT: in Quebec decline in firearm suicides not reflected in overall decline

19. Youth Access to Guns • Home is where majority of gun death and accidents take place • 24% of Quebec homes have guns • 33% guns not safely stored • long guns:hunters in family • hand guns: illegal or restricted weapon (ie children of police, military)

20. STAKEHOLDER ROLES • For law to be effective, need community participation in implementation • Must understand Risks • Must take Preventative Action- voluntary removal of firearms; counselling; legal interventions • Must raise general community awareness of problem and solutions

21. Target Audiences • Parents and families: understand the risks and take appropriate action • Health care professionals: know the signs, provide counselling, intervene • Guidance Counsellors and teachers: know the signs, provide counselling, intervene • Social workers, youth workers: know the risks, intervene • Police: identify risks, intervene • Communities-report potential problem

22. School Intervention-Example • Identify at risk youth (violence or suicide) • Routinely query parents of troubled youth re: access to guns at home or elsewhere (family members, friends, neighbours) • Suggest gun be removed temporarily

23. OPPORTUNITY AREAS • Increase awareness of suicide, violence risks and firearms: data and trend analysis (fact-based decisions and interventions) • Integration of “firearms” into other suicide, violence prevention and community strategies • Taking preventative action - clear procedures: “when in doubt say no”

24. Ask a Question, Save a Life • Do you have access to a gun? • Does your (suicidal) son\daughter have access to a gun? • Does the person who threatens you have access to a gun? • Does the person who threatens your mother have access to a gun?

25. Success Stories • Licensing process improves risk assessment and includes hotline • Decline in reported suicides with firearms 1990-1999 in Quebec (but increase in suicide overall) • Decline in firearms death across Canada with increased gun control

26. Best Practice Examples • Batshaw Children and Family services implementing screening for firearms in domestic violence calls and for suicidal youth in their care • Centres de Jeunesse, Services Psycho-sociaux are also looking at adding specific question re:guns • Montreal Children’s Crisis Team- screening for firearms

27. Best Practices • ShelterNet, Federation des ressources d’hébergement pour femmes violentées includes screening for guns in their new guide • Quebec provincial strategy on suicide recognizes firearms issues • Educational efforts already underway (eg. Lac Ste. Jean) • Romeo Dallaire who suffers from depression and PST asked police to take his firearms

28. Best Practices- Policing • Increased Awareness, improved procedures • Appropriate enforcement of safe storage • Safe storage of police firearms • Police called to suicide attempts routinely query presence of firearms • Reporting and record keeping to support licensing and revocation • Procedures: determine presence of guns when risk is identified

29. NEXT STEPS • Suggestions- what works in your organisation • Are there current initiatives - programs, interventions for school professionals where guns could be included • Resource materials • Contacts