SAVE focuses firearms safety efforts amid public health crisis
Backed by key data on incident frequency and societal harm, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued his office’s first advisory dedicated to firearm violence on Tuesday, June 25, declaring the issue an American public health crisis.
“The U.S. Surgeon General’s latest advisory declaring firearm violence in America to be a public health crisis must be a wake-up call to the country,” said Erich Mische, executive director of SAVE – Suicide Awareness Voices of Education. “That the leading cause of death for children and adolescents has become firearm injury is unacceptable. That 56% of all firearm-related deaths are from suicide demands we focus on greater lethal means safety.”
SAVE – Suicide Awareness Voices of Education is focusing its efforts to raise awareness about the impact of firearms on suicide in America, he said. In partnership with other organizations, the nonprofit has been distributing cable gun locks at no cost since April of this year.
“By increasing lethal means safety including trigger locks, safer gun storage and ongoing education and training in our communities, we can protect children and adolescents and prevent suicide.”
SAVE is a national suicide prevention nonprofit working to end the tragedy of suicide through education, training, advocacy and support of suicide loss survivors. We envision a nation that prioritizes mental health and suicide prevention efforts while reducing the impact of suicide on families and communities.
Please direct all inquiries to SAVE Marketing and Communications Manager Josie Gereszek at (952) 208-8488.