Headline: | Convergence Center for Policy Resolution: From Across the Divide on Guns, Diverse Leaders Advise on Preventing Firearm Suicide |
Location: | US |
Post Date: | Dec 7, 2021 2:58 PM |
TAG ID: | awire088719 |
DocID: | 676408 |
Word Count: | approx. 1388 words |
Full story: | |
Yearlong collaborative Convergence Dialogue tackles source of 60% of gun deaths WASHINGTON, DC / ACCESSWIRE / December 7, 2021 / Convergence Center for Policy Resolution, the leading nonprofit devoted to bridging divides and developing solutions to intractable public issues, today shared findings and solutions emerging from the yearlong Convergence Dialogue on Guns and Suicide Prevention at a panel discussion with some of the leaders who participated in the collaborative dialogue. From across the normally unbridgeable divide on guns in America, participants came together, beginning in September 2020, to advise on the challenges, potential solutions and pressing next steps for preventing firearm suicides in America. In their report, Convergence Dialogue participants wrote, "We hope this report can demonstrate:
In recent years, over 60 percent of all gun deaths in America are suicides, and about half of all suicides are by firearm, facts shared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition, most experts fear the ongoing global health crisis continues to take a heavy toll on mental health, often disproportionately among some of America's most vulnerable individuals and groups. The work of the group was further complexified by decades of stubbornly rising suicide rates, as well as increases in the prevalence and diversity of gun ownership in America. Participants advising on these issues included leading voices from both gun rights and responsibilities groups and gun violence prevention groups as well as experts from the firearms industry, suicide prevention groups, and mental health groups. Medical practitioners, researchers and faith leaders were also a part of the yearlong effort. Representing a broad spectrum of perspectives from urban and rural America as well as diverse ideological and socioeconomic backgrounds, the group convened for regular virtual sessions hosted by Convergence. As a result, The Convergence Dialogue on Guns and Suicide Prevention Report, released today, details a series of actionable proposals and strategies. Suicide Prevention: A Path Forward through Dialogue Despite diverse backgrounds and strongly held positions, dialogue participants advised on strategies to prevent these deaths working from a core set of ideas highlighted in the report:
After building a deeper understanding of gun ownership, the group reviewed existing strategies and potential solutions to prevent firearm suicide. Participants assessed suicide data such as risk factors and suicide rates within different high-risk demographic groups, including white males, veterans, African American youth, American Indians / Alaska Natives and the LGBTQ+ community. The group also discussed interventions that might effectively prevent and reduce the number of suicides in these diverse populations. Members of the Convergence group were encouraged by the tenor of the yearlong discussions. "Like many Americans, I am often frustrated by the seemingly intractable firearms debate where few solutions are agreed upon," said Chris Cheng, American sports shooter and The History Channel's "Top Shot" Season 4 champion and Second Amendment advocate. "A core reason for this frustration is the fact that gun owners are rarely invited to environments where our way of life is heard without judgment or discrimination. I am encouraged by the civil discussions had amongst the various voices and perspectives, where our time and energy focused on potential solutions in mental health and suicide prevention." Mental health experts were equally encouraged. "I've been doing research on suicide prevention for 25 years, but I've never sat down with gun advocates, ever. I thought we lived on different planets," said participant Sherry Molock, a pastor and researcher at George Washington University who specializes in suicide risk and prevention in African American adolescents and young adults. "It was very eye-opening for me to talk with people who are either gun advocates, gun owners, or even those who are involved in policy work because they had a different perspective and are crucial to crafting research efforts and solutions that can really work to save lives." Funding, Scale, Research, Education: Four Strategies to Support Suicide Prevention The Convergence report suggests immediate action through the implementation of the following actions: FUNDING. Increase and expand public and private funding of programs that seek to prevent suicides by firearm.
SCALE. Highlight current work by firearms groups and others to promote and expand their suicide prevention reach and scope.
RESEARCH. Increase and expand firearm suicide prevention research.
EDUCATION. Share and amplify education and training on lethal means and suicide prevention.
Guns in America: A Critique of the Current National Conversation The report states that the current national conversation on guns in America often lacks effective efforts to find solutions across opposing perspectives. In light of this shortcoming, the report spotlights specific local and audience-targeted programs and initiatives studied by the group that work to prevent firearm suicide. In addition to encouraging the duplication and amplification of efforts at the local, state and national level, the report provides detailed descriptions of existing programs that:
"The debate on guns is one of the most charged in the country, but we've shown that a good-faith conversation on specific pathways to prevent firearm suicide is possible," said Russell Krumnow, senior director of the Convergence Dialogue on Guns and Suicide Prevention. "The relationships established during this dialogue demonstrate that we can build deeper mutual understanding on tough issues and that there's a shared desire to lift up solutions that ultimately save lives." To download a copy of the Convergence Dialogue on Guns and Suicide Prevention report, please visit https://bit.ly/2ZKIWXH. ### About Convergence Center for Policy Resolution MEDIA CONTACTS: Tonie Auer, TrizCom PR on behalf of Convergence Center for Policy Resolution SOURCE: Convergence Center for Policy Resolution View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/676408/Convergence-Center-for-Policy-Resolution-From-Across-the-Divide-on-Guns-Diverse-Leaders-Advise-on-Preventing-Firearm-Suicide |
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