Need help with teen gun related suicide statistics


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RTFM
November 12, 2003, 08:51 AM
While watching the not-so-local news last night, there was a report on teen suicide here in Idaho.

A line in the report has me thinking that the reporter my not have all of her ducks in a row.
*gasp*
Say it’s not so RTFM, a reporter stretch the truth to further her own cause.
I know, I know. Hard to believe, but that’s why I am here, Can any one help me find the statistics of gun use in suicide (preferably for teens only) vs. other methods.

She eludes that a Boise High School social worker says because we are in the west guns are more available to teens, and with that availability, the rate is higher.

Thing is the social worker did not say that on camera, so did she really say that or is the reporter just adding “juice” to the story.

So that’s why I need your help, it just sounds like "If we took the guns away, there would be less suicide in teens.

I think that if someone wants to commit suicide they will commit it, take away one method and they will find another. But you all know that line, I'm preaching to the choir now. Any way, here is the quote from last night and the link.


"There are certainly a lot of adolescents that are depressed and struggling with lots of different issues." Boise High Social Worker Ann Young said.

Young has been a social worker at Boise High School for the last decade and she's not surprised by Idaho's high teen suicide rate.

"In the west generally, suicide rates are higher, there's more of an independent attitude of not wanting to get help, people thinking they can take care of problems on their own." Young said.

Young also says teens have more access to guns in the west. But no matter where you are in the country, the signs that a teen is thinking about killing themself are the same.

Link to article
http://www.ktvb.com/news/localnews/ktvbn-nov1103-suicide.40dca5b2.html

Reported by Anna Rau Idaho's NewsChannel 7 KTVB

RTFM

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Graystar
November 12, 2003, 09:10 AM
Gee, I guess then that it has nothing to do with Idaho's huge Meth problem. :rolleyes:

goalie
November 12, 2003, 09:30 AM
One word for you: Japan.

It is very, very hard to get a gun there, yet for some reason they have a much higher suicide rate.

Things that make you go hmmmmmmm.

Zak Smith
November 12, 2003, 11:18 AM
This CDC site might be a start. It's my source for mortality statistics, but I don't know if it breaks them down by region:

http://webapp.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/mortrate.html

lycanthrope
November 12, 2003, 12:37 PM
Weapons usage in teen suicide tends to be oriented around gender versus location.

Girls attempt suicide more often with less lethal means (pills).
Boys don't attempt as often, but are more successful (due to prefering guns).

I candig up the numbers for my location, but I know nothing of Idaho.

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