Guns And Suicide

The Problem

Two-thirds of all gun deaths in the United States are from suicides, not homicide. Research from Harvard Injury Control Research Center’s Means Matter project shows that people who die from suicide are likelier to live in homes with guns than people who merely attempted suicide, and states with higher rates of gun ownership have higher rates of gun suicide.

The media focuses so much more on homicides than suicides by gun, which results in a misperception in just how big the problem of guns and suicide is.

The Solution

1000 young people across the country will be transformed into "The Living Dead." On one day, they will all wear skeleton makeup and t-shirts that say "Text WHY to 38383." During the day, they will represent viscerally young people that have died by suicide by gun. When someone texts in, they'll get the explanation that these young people are raising awareness for suicide by guns.

Then, we'll start a campaign sending "2 to 1" stickers to anyone that signs up to raise awareness for this staggering fact. When people ask about it, campaign participants will explain what the sticker symbolizes and share stickers/a printed out flyer featuring one of the stories (that have been curated by DoSomething) of a young person who died by suicide using a gun and about the role guns play in suicide.

On the sheet there will also be a text call-out to text WHY to 38383 for more information, and Crisis Text Line’s and/or other suicide group’s contact information for if you or someone you know is experiencing any suicide ideation.