USA Today: Prof. Hahm Shares Mental Health Expertise on More Women Dying from Suicide by Firearm
A recent CDC report highlights a troubling trend: more women in the U.S. are using firearms in suicides, with gun-related suicides among women increasing since 2020. In 2022, firearms accounted for over half of the record 49,500 suicide deaths, traditionally a statistic more prevalent among men. Prof. Hyeouk Chris Hahm from BU School of Social Work (BUSSW) talked to USA Today about the associations of this trend, including the pandemic’s impact on women and an increase in gun ownership.
Excerpt from “Women Are Increasingly Using Firearms in Suicide Deaths, CDC Data Reveals” by Eduardo Cuevas:
Hyeouk Chris Hahm, associate dean for research at Boston University School of Social Work, said the COVID-19 pandemic placed increased burdens on women – with job losses and an increased need to care for children and family members. This spurred feelings of stress and isolation, she said. During the pandemic, gun sales also increased dramatically, especially among women.
Under these circumstances, women’s thoughts of suicide may have moved into new territory.
‘Women are the ones who now have guns,’ Hahm told USA TODAY. ‘When they have the similar ideation, they have access.’
Access to firearms increases the chances of a suicide attempt becoming lethal, she said.”