When someone is feeling overwhelmed, deeply stressed, or hopeless, access to dangerous items like firearms or large amounts of medication can increase the risk of harm. The encouraging news is that simple safety steps at home can make a powerful difference. Research shows that when firearms, medications, and other potential hazards are stored safely, the risk of suicide and unintentional injury goes down.
Some easy ways to make your home safer:
Store firearms safely: Keep guns unloaded, locked, and separate from ammunition. Use a gun safe or lock box, and only share the key or code with trusted adults. You can get free gun locks and safety tips from Project ChildSafe (https://projectchildsafe.org/).
Store medicines safely: Keep all medicines, both prescription and over-the-counter, in a locked cabinet. Get rid of old or unused medicine safely. Visit the FDA’s disposal guide (https://www.fda.gov/) or check DEA Take Back Day (https://www.dea.gov/takebackday) for local drop-off events.
Help someone you care about: If a friend or family member is having a hard time, you can help by offering to store their firearms or medicines until things feel more stable.
Remember that lethal means safety isn’t about taking things away, it’s about giving someone in crisis more time and space to heal. Everyone deserves that chance.
If you or someone you know is struggling, help is always available:
Call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline free, private, and open 24/7.
Veterans can call 988 and press 1 or text 838255 to reach the Veterans Crisis Line.
Check out the North Shore Mental Health Group Resource Guide (online) for mental health providers and support within the community.
