Lowering the Risk of Suicide during the Pandemic

Firearm sales have surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, coinciding with a time of increased isolation, financial uncertainty, and stress. This combination of factors is a perfect storm for suicide risk, but there are data-driven solutions that can lower that risk and save lives.

Michael Anestis, executive director of Rutgers’ Center on Gun Violence Research, will discuss the role of firearms in suicide in general, how the risk is being shaped by current events, and what we can do to limit a surge in suicide as our nation continues to pursue solutions to COVID-19.