Youth

Prevention of Firearms Death and

Injury among Youth









1

Overview

 Background

 Problem : Firearms and Youth

 Risk Factors

 Stakeholder Roles

 Tools

 Next Steps





2

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.





3

Firearm death

 Public health experts view firearm

death like disease

 firearm death has common cause



availability and use of firearms









4

Firearms and Youth

 suicide

 injury and accidental death

 family violence

 young offenders: taxing, gang activity









5

Objectives

Understand youth suicide and

victimisation with firearms

 The Problem

 The Risk factors

 Interventions

 Implementation issues

 Evaluation



6

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)

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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%)



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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



9

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)









10

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



11

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)

12

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







13

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)



14

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)







15

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

16

Lethality Model



Factors Affecting Incidence Injury

the of Violence Outcomes

Frequency of

Violent

Events

Factors Affecting

the Severity of

Violent Incidents

GUNS



17

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

18

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)

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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



20

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

21

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





22

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”

23

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?





24

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





25

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

26

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





27

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

28

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



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