Agencies
Services
Safe Storage Resources
Contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you are experiencing mental health-related distress or are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support. Call or text 988. Chat at 988lifeline.org. Visit the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline for more information at 988lifeline.org.
Several organizations have created materials to help increase awareness of safe storage.
Examples of general/broad safe storage-related awareness materials.
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is a voluntary health organization that gives those affected by suicide a nationwide community empowered by research, education, and advocacy to take action against this leading cause of death. AFSP collaborated with the National Shooting Sports Foundation to make suicide prevention education a basic component of firearms ownership and to distribute materials to retailers and ranges (brochure). Resources are available for parents on understanding youth mental health and preventing unauthorized access to firearms (guide), how to have a real conversation with those you are concerned with, and common risk factors and warning signs. AFSP also created a special module of its Talk Saves Lives suicide prevention education program, specifically geared to suicide prevention and firearms safety.
Be SMART Campaign
The Be SMART campaign promotes responsible gun ownership in order to reduce child gun deaths. The word SMART stands for Secure all firearms in your home and vehicle, Model responsible behavior around firearms, Ask about the presence of unsecure firearms in other homes, Recognize the role of firearms in suicide, and Tell your peers to be S-M-A-R-T. The campaign provides information about secure storage and gun safety, asking about the presence of guns in a home before your child visits (Spanish), secure storage toolkit, secure storage practices to reduce gun violence (Spanish), guide to secure gun storage devices (Spanish), facts and resources on child firearm suicide (Spanish), talking to your children about guns (Spanish), keeping your home safe with secure storage, protecting LGBTQ+ youth from firearm suicide (Spanish), and videos.
Brady: United Against Gun Violence
Brady – the nation’s oldest gun violence prevention organization – works to enact reasonable solutions to free America from gun violence. They tackle three critical areas: change the laws, change the industry, and change the culture. By changing hearts and minds and fostering a culture of responsible gun use and ownership, America can be free from gun violence.
End Family Fire
End Family Fire is a movement to promote responsible gun ownership. A partnership between Brady and the Ad Council, its mission is to encourage safe gun storage in the home. Family fire refers to a shooting caused by someone having access to a gun from the home when they shouldn’t have it. End Family Fire provides information about safe storage, firearm-related suicides, and unintentional shootings. Various resources are available, such as a brochure, campaign toolkit, public service announcements, and stories. ASK: Asking Saves Kids (June 21) is part of the End Family Fire campaign and encourages parents and guardians to add one more question to this conversation: "Is there an unlocked gun where my child plays?"
Harvard – Means Matters
The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Means Matter Campaign is to increase the proportion of suicide prevention groups who promote activities that reduce a suicidal person’s access to lethal means of suicide and who develop active partnerships with gun owner groups to prevent suicide. Firearm-related data and resources are included within the Means Matters materials. Some of the topics include firearm access is a risk factor for suicide, youth access to firearms, lethal means counseling, and the relationship between guns and impulsive suicides. Means Matters provides recommendations for families on protecting a loved one during a suicidal crisis, for suicide prevention groups and local communities on a plan for action to reduce a suicidal person’s access to firearms and other lethal means, for clinicians on counseling at-risk patients/clients and their families about reducing access to firearms and other lethal means, and for colleges and universities on steps for assessing and implementing means restriction on campus
Illinois Department of Public Health
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is an advocate for and partner with the people of Illinois to re-envision health policy and promote health equity, prevent and protect against disease and injury, and prepare for health emergencies. Under Public Act 102-0345, IDPH was tasked, subject to appropriation or other available funding, to conduct a program to promote awareness of firearm restraining orders to the general public.
Injury Free Coalition for Kids
The Injury Free Coalition for Kids is among the country's most effective injury prevention programs. This is a national program developed with funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and is comprised of hospital-based, community-oriented programs whose efforts are anchored in research, education, and advocacy. Injury Free Coalition for Kids created a parent’s safety checklist, safety presentation, and a list of research papers related to firearm injury prevention.
Injury Prevention and Research Center at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
The Injury Prevention and Research Center (IPRC) addresses the leading causes of injury to Illinois children through behavioral risk reduction and the promotion of safe physical and social environments. Several IPRC programs include firearms safety-related resources, including a gun safety toolkit and resources for parents (pages 3-6 of the Firearm Safety Toolkit), safe storage flyer (Spanish, Arabic), and local resources for comprehensive suicide prevention and care.
Project ChildSafe – National Shooting Sports Foundation
Project ChildSafe is a program of the National Shooting Sports Foundation to promote firearms safety and education. Project ChildSafe collaborates with local law enforcement agencies, such as those in Illinois, to provide Safety Kits. The kits include a cable-style gun-locking device and a brochure (also available in Spanish) that discusses safe handling and secure storage guidelines to help deter access by unauthorized individuals. Project ChildSafe provides resources for educators, law enforcement, parents, gun owners, and partner organizations.
