The Campaign’s Advisory Board Member, Dr. Margie Sanfilippo (Eckerd College, St. Petersburg, FL) and Dr. Tara Shollenberger (High Point University, High Point, NC) presented their research on suicide, particularly by firearms, in college-aged students at the annual National Association for Behavioral Intervention & Threat Assessment Case Manager Conference in Denver (NABITA) an organization that assists colleges and universities in setting up interdisciplinary teams to support students in distress.
Margie and Tara utilized the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS), a repository of data provided by states to the CDC. Focusing on the deteriorating mental health of college students, the duo presented their research findings regarding college age youth and their use of firearms in suicide.
Males (17-23 years of age) are 4.5x as likely to use a firearm in suicide than are females. They are less likely to be in treatment or to disclose their suicidal ideation, they are less likely to come to the attention of others.
College provides a buffer against firearm suicide for males in particular, as the rate of completed suicide among males with some college, and in particular males with a college degree, have significantly lower rates of suicide by firearm. The same is not true for females (suicide or suicide by firearm). See their chart above.
Further, a summary of previous research revealed that the only individuals or groups of individuals (e.g.,campus police) that want students to be able to carry on college campuses are those individuals who want to carry (typically white males).
We are proud of our colleague’s work shedding light on a dark truth.
