Objective:
This study evaluated the impact of adding a suicide prevention (SP) module to a Concealed Firearm Permit (CFP) course on instructors’ knowledge, attitudes, and behavior.
Methods: Certified instructors of the Utah CFP course participated in online surveys the year before (n=1,005) and two years after (n=490) a SP module was added to the curriculum.
Results: Two-thirds of baseline respondents said they would be interested in teaching a SP module, and 81% at follow-up supported the module. Follow-up respondents demonstrated increased knowledge about firearm suicides and prevention. Compared to baseline, more follow-up respondents reported being “very likely” to offer to hold an at-risk friend’s guns (62% vs 48%, p <.0001). 63% of follow-up respondents who had taught the module (vs. 42% who had not) thought a suicidal friend would be safer without access to his guns (p<.001). Among instructors who had taught the module, 62% reported their students’ responses were receptive (24% mixed, 6% unreceptive, 9% unclear).
Conclusion: Our results suggest that incorporating SP into firearm courses is feasible and may help improve knowledge, attitudes, and behavioral intentions regarding temporarily separating at-risk friends or family from firearms.
Project Status:
Complete
Principal Investigators:
Bernadette Hohl
Rebecca Temkin