U.S.A. -(AmmoLand.com)- NEWTOWN, Conn. — NSSF’s SHOT University Online learning portal offers a new presentation to help firearm owners, retailers and employees better understand the complexities of suicide and suicide prevention.
The suicide prevention modules are the latest addition to SHOT University Online’s lineup of educational presentations for industry companies and their employees. These presentations expand NSSF’s efforts with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention to help educate the firearm community about mental health and preventing suicide by firearm.
New Online Learning Modules
Two suicide prevention education modules cover the following topics:
- Understanding suicide, including some of the myths that surround suicide, and raising awareness among owners, employees, and customers about suicide and prevention.
- Suicide prevention, including learning about how employees and owners can have brave conversations with customers who are exhibiting concerning behaviors, and
- Suicide postvention about what to expect and how to respond if the worst does happen.
Dr. Doreen Marshall, Vice President of Mission Engagement for AFSP, serves as a subject-matter expert on suicide and prevention. Dr. Marshall discusses warning signs, risk factors and how to have a brave conversation with someone you believe is struggling, among other topics.
AFSP estimates that 54 percent of Americans have been affected by suicide. Dr. Marshall notes that the material covered in the modules can help business professionals not only in their roles at work but in their personal lives as well. Recognizing that suicide accounts for 60 percent of all firearm-related deaths, NSSF partnered with AFSP several years ago to work cooperatively to deliver educational resources to industry and the gun-owning community to help reduce that number.
“These new e-learning modules expand NSSF’s considerable efforts to help reduce the rate of suicide by firearm,” said NSSF President and CEO Joe Bartozzi. “Whether it’s a customer, co-worker, or family member, you may be able to help save a life by learning more about suicide and prevention. We encourage industry members to take advantage of this educational resource, and we thank our partner, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, for helping NSSF develop this valuable tool.”
Learn more about the SHOT University Online suicide prevention module here.
SHOT University Online is available free of charge to NSSF members. If you are not a member, please consider joining your fellow colleagues in support of your trade association. Learn more and join today by vising NSSF’s Membership Page or by calling 203-426-1320.
Firearm retailers, shooting ranges and other industry businesses can also access the AFSP-NSSF Suicide Prevention Toolkit that offers educational materials for staff and customers.
About The National Shooting Sports Foundation
NSSF is the trade association for the firearm industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearm retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations, and publishers nationwide. For more information, visit nssf.org
My sister-in-law committed suicide by 9mm. After the fact, all the warning signs were determined to be in place which made her the ideal candidate for someone of her condition. Under the not so watchful eyes of a mental health expert, she was able to “act” normal despite her real erratic behavior and constant concerns from family and friends. My observation is that she was bold, calculating and precise in her efforts to end her life, my brother had no clue as to her state of mind. His firearms were in a locked container with keys only he believed to… Read more »
i understand the rational behind programs like this, no one wants to see anyone take their own life. only thing is, you cannot stop/prevent a person from committing suicide. even if you stop the actual act, the person already has a propensity towards harming themselves, otherwise they wouldn’t have already tried to do so. communication is a big key, people are gregarious creatures and when they don’t have/get that social interaction things change, and not for the better you can help by talking with them.