At a glance
This success story, Montana: Creating Safer Communities, highlights how Core SIPP implements, evaluates and disseminates injury prevention strategies into action.
What did Montana do?
The city-county health department for Lewis and Clark County created Safer Communities Montana (SCM) with support from the local and state governments and CDC's Core State Injury Prevention Program (Core SIPP). SCM provides free gunlocks and drug deactivation kits to the community for secure storage of firearms and to prevent medication misuse. Secure storage of firearms and safe disposal of medication reduces the risk of suicide. Community partners give free gunlocks to customers and refer them to suicide prevention materials in case someone they know experiences a suicidal crisis. SCM also promotes the free gunlocks, drug deactivation kits, and suicide prevention messaging through TV, radio, and newspaper.
This partnership strategy is innovative because of its personalized approach to the firearm community in these Montana counties, which includes many veterans. SCM relies on community partners' input and advice for marketing materials and conducting outreach and community engagement. Community partners such as the Prickly Pear Sportsmen's Association, Capital Sports, and Dave's Pawn Shop are all active participants in SCM meetings. SCM also collaborated with the local hospital and health clinics in Lewis and Clark County to distribute gunlocks and drug deactivation kits to patients who score high on a depression screener, mention mental health challenges, or want to practice secure storage. SCM serves Broadwater, Jefferson, and Lewis and Clark counties. Lewis and Clark County has about 70,000 residents, half of which live in small rural towns and communities. Broadwater and Jefferson counties have about 18,000 residents combined.
How does Safer Communities Montana impact the counties served?
The goal of SCM is to prevent suicide and reduce access to lethal means for community members at risk for suicide in Lewis and Clark, Broadwater, and Jefferson counties. SCM partnered with 77% of firearm retailers, 75% of gun ranges, and 80% of pawn shops in the three counties. They are working to expand outreach and partnerships to law enforcement, schools, and primary care and emergency department physicians. Feedback from community partners helped SCM create outreach materials appropriate for the firearm community and specifically veterans.
SCM worked with a CDC-supported Injury Control Research Center, Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, to develop a safe storage map to improve temporary secure storage options for individuals in crisis. Firearm dealers mentioned that liability for self-harm, suicide, or harm against others were obstacles for safe storage arrangements. The Montana State Legislature passed SB423 during the 2023 Legislative Session, and it became law when the Governor of Montana signed it in May 2023. This law limits liability for individuals and private companies when they return a firearm to the owner at the end of a firearm hold agreement. The law is intended to increase comfort for Veteran Service Organizations, firearm dealers, and gun ranges to hold firearms temporarily. As a result of this law, SCM will incorporate the new liability limitations for firearm holders into a toolkit to encourage participation in the program.
Why was Safer Communities Montana created?
Montana's suicide rate ranked among the top two in the nation and was double the national rate of 14.1 suicides per 100,000 people in 2021. This might be due to several factors such as a lack of mental health services, stigma, and easy access to lethal means. Populations at a higher risk for suicide in Montana include veterans, middle-aged white men, and American Indians. Montana's veteran suicide rate was 1.7 times the rate for the general population in 2020.
Firearm ownership is a large part of Montana culture. Montana ranks number one in the nation for household firearm ownership. A factor likely contributing to Montana's high suicide rate is how easy it is for people in crisis to access lethal means, especially firearms. A person who attempts suicide with a firearm has an 85 – 90% chance of dying. Sixty-eight percent of all suicides in Montana used a firearm in 2021. Sixty-five people died by suicide between 2018–2021 in Lewis and Clark County alone. Of those, 41 used a firearm and 11 died of an intentional overdose. Research indicates that about 9 in 10 people who attempt suicide and survive do not die by suicide later. Preventing access to lethal means at the time of crisis can save lives.
Impact
The goal of SCM is to prevent suicide and reduce access to lethal means for community members at risk for suicide in Lewis and Clark, Broadwater, and Jefferson counties. SCM partnered with 77% of firearm retailers, 75% of gun ranges, and 80% of pawn shops in the three counties. They are working to expand outreach and partnerships to law enforcement, schools, and primary care and emergency department physicians. Feedback from community partners helped SCM create outreach materials appropriate for the firearm community and specifically veterans.
SCM worked with a CDC-supported Injury Control Research Center, Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, to develop a safe storage map to improve temporary secure storage options for individuals in crisis. Firearm dealers mentioned that liability for self-harm, suicide, or harm against others were obstacles for safe storage arrangements. The Montana State Legislature passed SB423 during the 2023 Legislative Session, and it became law when the Governor of Montana signed it in May 2023. This law limits liability for individuals and private companies when they return a firearm to the owner at the end of a firearm hold agreement. The law is intended to increase comfort for Veteran Service Organizations, firearm dealers, and gun ranges to hold firearms temporarily. As a result of this law, SCM will incorporate the new liability limitations for firearm holders into a toolkit to encourage participation in the program.