“Spouses have a huge role” in preventing firearm suicide among women veterans: Partners' perspectives, experiences, and needs

Abstract

Many women Veterans have access to firearms owned by their partners; therefore, understanding partners' perspectives, experiences, and needs regarding firearm lethal means safety (LMS) is essential. Twenty-five partners of women Veterans with a history of household firearm access participated in this mixed methods study. Nearly all participants expressed that if their partner was suicidal, they would be willing to take steps to reduce their partner's firearm access and to participate in firearm LMS discussions with their partner's healthcare provider. However, only a subset reported engaging in such behaviors. Participants reported needing information and guidance regarding actionable firearm LMS strategies (e.g., safe storage locations). Firearm LMS can be facilitated by supporting women Veterans' partners in recognizing and responding to suicide risk and providing them with guidance and tools to support reducing firearm access when suicide risk is elevated.