Means Restriction
Means restriction is a suicide prevention strategy designed to reduce access to lethal means, particularly for individuals at risk for self-harm or suicide. This can include governmental measures like installing barriers on bridges, or personal measures like reducing access to lethal medications, and safe storage of firearms. By restricting access to lethal means, it can make it more difficult for someone in a crisis to carry out a suicide attempt, giving them time to reconsider or seek help. It’s an important component of suicide prevention efforts.
Examples include:
1. Safe storage of firearms: Encouraging gun owners to store firearms securely, such as in a gun safe, to reduce the risk of impulsive firearm suicides. It is also important to change safe combinations and key locations regularly to maintain security and safety.
2. Reducing access to medications: Limiting the quantity of prescription medications dispensed at one time to reduce the risk of overdose.
3. Bridge barriers: Installing physical barriers or safety nets on bridges to prevent suicide attempts.
4. Restricting access to lethal chemicals: Implementing regulations on the sale of and access to potentially lethal chemicals, such as pesticides.
5. Means counseling: Healthcare providers can discuss means restriction with patients at risk of self-harm and suicide, and provide guidance on reducing access to lethal means.
These strategies can be effective in reducing suicide rates, especially when combined with mental health support and crisis intervention services.
Examples include:
1. Safe storage of firearms: Encouraging gun owners to store firearms securely, such as in a gun safe, to reduce the risk of impulsive firearm suicides. It is also important to change safe combinations and key locations regularly to maintain security and safety.
2. Reducing access to medications: Limiting the quantity of prescription medications dispensed at one time to reduce the risk of overdose.
3. Bridge barriers: Installing physical barriers or safety nets on bridges to prevent suicide attempts.
4. Restricting access to lethal chemicals: Implementing regulations on the sale of and access to potentially lethal chemicals, such as pesticides.
5. Means counseling: Healthcare providers can discuss means restriction with patients at risk of self-harm and suicide, and provide guidance on reducing access to lethal means.
These strategies can be effective in reducing suicide rates, especially when combined with mental health support and crisis intervention services.
For additional information, including access to the CALM (Counseling on Access to Lethal Means) course, please see the links below.
save.org/about-suicide/preventing-suicide/reducing-access-to-means/
theactionalliance.org/our-strategy/lethal-means
zerosuicide.edc.org/resources/trainings-courses/CALM-course
save.org/about-suicide/preventing-suicide/reducing-access-to-means/
theactionalliance.org/our-strategy/lethal-means
zerosuicide.edc.org/resources/trainings-courses/CALM-course