Taking Aim at Suicide: The Role of Gun Access Restrictions in Protecting Men's Lives

Josh Beharry from HeadsUpGuys

Josh Beharry attempted suicide in 2010 due to years of suffering from depression. When it became too much, he jumped off a bridge puncturing one of his lungs, and broke multiple ribs. Beharry should be dead, but he was lucky and survived the fall. 

Today, Josh is a suicide prevention activist who aims to bring awareness to suicide within males. He is the leading project coordinator for the YouTube channel HeadsUpGuys which contains numerous suicide stories of men. Josh states, “My suicide attempt did not end my life, but instead became the turning point in my recovery from depression. I didn't think it was possible.” 

In 2010, 38,364 people died of suicide, and 30,277 of those deaths were males. In 2021, 48,183 people died of suicide, and 38,358 were men. Since Josh’s attempted suicide, the United States has had a 25.59% increase in the number of male suicides which poses an alarming problem for the United States. 

                        Suicide rates by race/ethnicity and sex 

Firemans accounted for 54.64% of the 48,000 suicide deaths in 2021. To stop the increasing rates of suicide attempts and deaths among males, there should be more campaigns promoting awareness about the dangers of easy access to lethal means. 

    

Unfortunately, firearms are the most common form of suicide execution for men, and men are more likely to use a firearm over any other method. Women are more likely to ingest pills, however, neither is ideal, but guns have a higher lethality rate because they leave little room for prevention or intervention. They are immediately deadly as compared to other means such as pills. This correlation between male suicide deaths and firearms is extremely concerning however can easily be prevented. 

In addition to the usage of firearms, the stigma about men in society only fuels the issues behind suicide. Mental illnesses affect every individual in our world today, however, there is one group in particular that has been neglected. There are over 6 million men in the US who suffer from depression each year, however, depression in males often goes undiagnosed. There is this idea of “masculinity” that is pressured among males which “refers to the roles, behaviors, and attributes that are considered appropriate for boys and men in a given society.” 

The societal expectations of masculinity that are pressured into men make them less likely to talk to others about their feelings and seek professional help. From this, men experience depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. 

To help decrease these rates, it is important to bring awareness to men's mental health. With the number of male depressions rising, access to these lethal means such as firearms can increase the chances of men acting on these impulses. Considering firearms account for the most amount of suicide deaths among males, limiting access to firearms can significantly help men in need. 

Considering the impulsivity for suicide at the moment only lasts a few seconds, it would be important for there to be no access to guns, that way when they can’t find their firearm or can’t get to it in time before their impulse ends, they won’t feel the need to carry out any deadly actions.

On the contrary, one may think that they could just turn to another means of suicide. While yes this is true, firearms are the most lethal, therefore if one were to settle for something like ingesting pills, it would be less lethal and the probability of surviving said method would be higher. 

Spreading the word on the promotion of restricting access to firearms can significantly drop the number of suicide deaths among males. Many groups have been victims of suicide, but men, unfortunately, have not been talked about enough. Bringing awareness to this topic can help promote multiple campaigns about the safety of firearms. 

The stigma behind men's mental health is something that should be talked about more, and shedding light on this situation could help save a lot of people's lives and make a difference in the world. By providing campaigns around the US and the world, men can be encouraged to seek help. With the help of campaigning, people can also be educated on the dangers of having easy access to lethal means. 

By promoting communication and resources for men, the rates of suicides can be dropped. It is crucial to spread the word about male depression and the usage of these lethal means. By utilizing various platforms such as television, social media, community events, and the radio, relaying information to the public about the dangers of firearms can help decrease these numbers and empower men to seek help. 

All things considered, men suffer from suicidal thoughts and depression for multiple different reasons. Although in Josh’s case, firearms were not the issue, the statistics still do not lie. It is important that Josh didn’t have access to a gun or else his outcome could have been significantly different. 

If you or someone you know is in need, it is important to be aware of helpful resources and seek help. The national suicide and crisis hotline is 988.