This rural California county’s problem is all too common: how to reduce suicides when everyone has a gun
Summary
Shasta County, California, has some of the highest rates of suicide and gun ownership in the state, with many suicides involving firearms. Local families, health workers, and officials are trying to find ways to reduce suicide without discouraging gun ownership, which is a strong part of the local culture.Key Facts
- Shasta County, about 200 miles north of San Francisco, has very high suicide and gun ownership rates.
- In 2024, about three-quarters of suicide deaths in Shasta were men, almost all using guns.
- Suicide rates in Shasta reached 33.3 per 100,000 in 2022, three times higher than the California average.
- Over half of recent suicides in Shasta involved gunshot wounds.
- Gun ownership in northern California counties is much higher than in urban areas like Los Angeles or the Bay Area.
- Programs like gun violence restraining orders can temporarily restrict access to guns for people at risk of hurting themselves or others.
- Public health officials say reducing gun ownership alone may not work in places like Shasta, where guns are a key part of the local identity.
- Families affected by suicide say talking more openly about mental health and prevention is important.
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