SARASOTA/BRADENTON (SNN TV) – Sarasota and Bradenton lead the nation in gun-suicide deaths.
This report by New York University was released in September as part of Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. The study analyzed data from cities with at least 50,000 people living in them from 2014 to 2020. It found 4 out of every 10 gun deaths are attributed to suicide.
Bradenton led the nation with 34.5 suicides per 100,000 people. Sarasota was in the Top 5 at 7.3 per 100,000 people.
Cities with the strongest gun violence prevention laws, or the most parks or walkable neighborhoods, have about half the rate of gun suicides as those with weakest gun laws and the fewest parks.
Cities with the most gun shops recorded four times higher suicide rates than those with the fewest.
Smaller cities experience higher gun suicide rates.
If you or someone you know is struggling with depression or thoughts of suicide, please call the suicide hotline at 988. They provide free and confidential support 24/7.