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Introduction Given the increase in firearm purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic, this study seeks to determine the extent to which COVID-19 firearm purchasers differ in terms of suicide risk from nonfirearm owners and firearm owners who did not make a purchase during COVID-19. Methods Participants (N=3,500) were recruited through Qualtrics Panels to participate in an online survey examining methods for self-protection. ANCOVAs were utilized to assess suicidal ideation. Multivariate ANCOVAs were used to examine firearm storage practices and storage changes during COVID-19. Data were collected in late June and early July 2020, and analyses were conducted in July 2020. Results Individuals who purchased a firearm during COVID-19 more frequently reported lifetime, past-year, and past-month suicidal ideation than nonfirearm owners and firearm owners who did not make a purchase during COVID-19. COVID-19 purchasers with lifetime ideation were less likely to hide loaded firearms in a closet than those without lifetime ideation. COVID-19 purchasers with past-year or past-month ideation were more likely to use locking devices than COVID-19 purchasers without past-month ideation. Conclusions In contrast to firearm owners more generally, COVID-19 firearm purchasers appear far more likely to have experienced suicidal ideation and appear less likely to use certain unsafe firearm storage methods but also report a greater number of storage changes during COVID-19 that made firearms less secure. Future research should seek to further understand those who purchased a firearm during COVID-19 and determine ways to increase secure storage among firearm owners.

Reducing access to highly lethal methods for suicide (i.e., means safety) has been promoted as a way to reduce suicide risk. Research by Anestis et al. (J Affect Disord 227:530–535, 2018) has demonstrated that individuals who believe firearm ownership and storage are not associated with suicide risk and that those who are prevented from utilizing a specific method for suicide will find an alternative method (i.e., means substitution) are less willing to engage in firearms means safety. Sociopolitical beliefs and gender are two factors that are associated with beliefs about firearms and suicide. However, the extent to which these variables—in isolation and in combination—are associated with such beliefs has not been examined. This study examined how gender and social policy beliefs are associated with misconceptions about firearms and suicide. A total of 367 firearm owners took part in an anonymous online survey. Conservative firearm owners indicated firearm ownership and storage are less strongly related to suicide risk than did moderate or liberal individuals. Conservative males had significantly higher belief in means substitution than moderate and liberal males and liberal females. Liberal females had significantly lower belief in means substitution than moderate males and females and liberal males. Effective messaging regarding firearm means safety must consider the perspectives and potential motivations of individuals who are male and/or hold conservative beliefs to increase the reach and acceptability of means safety efforts.

Objective The present study sought to determine which painful and provocative events differentiated those with suicidal ideation from those who attempted suicide. Additionally, it presents a novel way of utilizing the Painful and Provocative Scale (PPES) by looking at items dichotomously as experienced or not experienced, instead of the frequency at which they are experienced. Method Participants (N = 666) were recruited as part of a large online study seeking to understand suicide risk across multiple high-risk groups (i.e., veterinarians, military service members, transgender individuals, and gun owners) for suicide. Participants in the present study were predominately white, female, and heterosexual. Results First, the PPES was examined as a dichotomous measure and results indicate that experiencing physical or sexual abuse, tying a noose, using intravenous drugs, or having injuries that required medical attention were associated with greater odds of attempting suicide; shooting a gun was associated with decreased odds. Next, the PPES was examined as a scale measure and findings indicate that increased exposure to rock climbing, experiencing physical or sexual abuse, or using intravenous drug were associated with increased odds of attempting suicide; while increased exposure to shooting a gun was associated with decreased odds. Conclusions The present study adds to the literature on the ideation-to-action framework and provides evidence considering the frequency of experiences using the Painful and Provocative Event Scale may not provide substantial information beyond dichotomous scoring.

Panic and sleep disturbances are established risk factors for suicide. Nocturnal panic attacks, which occur out of sleep, represent an intersection of these risk factors. Only one study to date has examined this relationship, but measured suicidality as a unitary construct. This represents a significant gap in the literature, considering most individuals who think about suicide do not make a plan and most who make a plan never make an attempt. We sought to expand upon existing research by examining how nocturnal panic relates to suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts separately. We predicted nocturnal panic would be associated with more suicidal ideation, plan, and attempt history than daytime only panic and no panic. Participants recruited from an online community sample were thoroughly screened for nocturnal and daytime panic history and completed questionnaires about past suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts. Nocturnal and daytime panic groups did not differ in past suicidal ideation or plans, but both groups exceeded the non-panic group. The nocturnal panic group reported more suicide attempts than the daytime and non-panic groups and judged themselves as more likely to make an attempt in the future. These results indicate a promising avenue for future research and suicide prevention efforts.

Previous literature has identified nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) as a common and noteworthy behavior, particularly given its association with psychopathology and suicide. However, the research on NSSI among males has resulted in mixed findings. Additionally, few studies have examined NSSI among service members and only one study to date has examined NSSI specifically among male service members. The present study examined descriptive statistics and clinical correlates of NSSI among male service members. Results indicated that the most common method of NSSI among this group was burning oneself with a cigarette, followed closely by cutting, and burning oneself with a lighter. NSSI engagement was associated with common correlates of NSSI such as increased emotion dysregulation, depression, impulsivity, and capability for suicide as well as decreased distress tolerance and a greatly likelihood to have experienced recent suicidal ideation. NSSI was also associated with grit, narcissism, and masculinity, some of which may be particularly important and valued in military culture. Overall, results suggest important similarities and differences among NSSI in service members relative to previously studied samples. Future research should continue to examine NSSI among male service members to ensure treatments are effectively targeting and addressing aspects of the behavior.

OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND: Poor sleep has been shown to have multiple negative outcomes during adolescence, in both academic and mental health domains. Several studies have identified the association between poor sleep and suicide risk in adolescents. However, onset of and engagement in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is also common in this age group, but this behavior has rarely been studied in association with sleep in adolescent samples. In the current study, it was expected that poorer sleep and more symptoms of insomnia would associate with a greater likelihood of recent NSSI engagement and greater NSSI severity. PARTICIPANTS: Data were collected from 387 community adolescents (mean age = 14.19, SD=1.08), 9% of whom reported NSSI in the past 6 months. The gender breakdown was about even (52% female) and the majority of the sample was White (88.5%). METHODS: Adolescent participants were recruited from middle and high schools for a study on mental health and risk behaviors. Researchers visited schools and administered self-report questionnaires to students in large groups. Measures assessed NSSI engagement and severity features, overall sleep quality, and insomnia symptoms. RESULTS: Results indicated that greater insomnia symptoms, but not overall sleep quality, significantly associated with greater likelihood of recent NSSI engagement. Sleep variables were not significantly associated with NSSI severity among adolescents with recent NSSI. CONCLUSIONS: Insomnia symptoms seem to be associated with recent engagement in NSSI. Adolescents who report symptoms of insomnia should also be assessed for self-harm behavior.