A Little Time Can Save a Life: Firearm Safety, 988, and Suicide Prevention
When someone we care about is going through a difficult time, we often want to help but may not know what to say or do.
Maybe they are struggling after a divorce, the loss of a job, a relationship ending, financial stress, or a period of depression that does not seem to lift. Maybe you have noticed changes in their mood or behavior and are worried about them.
If there is a firearm in the home, one of the most important things we can do is create time and distance between a person in crisis and access to a gun.
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month
Every September, communities across the country come together to recognize Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, a time to remember those who have died by suicide, support people and families affected by suicide, and strengthen our commitment to prevention.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is focusing its 2026 campaign on a simple but important idea: we all have a role to play in suicide prevention.
This year's themes encourage us to connect, support, and prevent. That can mean checking in with someone we care about, learning how to recognize when someone may need support, knowing where to turn for help, and taking practical steps to reduce access to lethal means during a crisis.
Suicide prevention is not just something we talk about during a crisis. It is part of building communities where people feel connected, supported, and able to ask for help.
Suicide prevention is a community health issue
In Maine, firearm suicide is a significant public health concern. According to the most recent Maine CDC data, 157 of the 171 firearm deaths recorded in Maine in 2024 were suicides, accounting for 92% of all firearm deaths that year.
These numbers are heartbreaking. But they also point to opportunities for prevention.
Suicidal thoughts and crises can change quickly. Creating even a little time between a person experiencing a suicidal crisis and a highly lethal means can give that person an opportunity to reconsider, reach out for help or wait for the crisis to pass.
That is why firearm safety and suicide prevention go hand in hand.
Secure storage can create lifesaving time
If you have a firearm in your home, storing it securely is an important step you can take to protect the people you love.
For safe storage:
Keep firearms unloaded when not in use.
Store firearms locked in a secure safe, lockbox or other appropriate storage device.
Store ammunition securely and separately from firearms when possible.
Make sure children and other unauthorized people cannot access firearms or keys, combinations or codes used to access them.
If someone in the household is experiencing a mental health or suicide crisis, consider temporarily increasing the distance between that person and firearms by having firearms securely stored outside the home or otherwise placed where the person cannot access them.
Safe storage is not only about preventing accidents. It can also help prevent a moment of crisis from becoming a tragedy.
It is also worth remembering that children and teens may spend time in homes other than their own. Talking with other parents and caregivers about firearm storage can be uncomfortable, but it can also help keep children safe. Asking whether firearms are securely stored in a home where your child will be spending time is a reasonable safety conversation, just like asking about other potential hazards.
You do not have to wait for a crisis to reach out
SAMHSA's 2026 Suicide Prevention Awareness Month campaign emphasizes that support can begin before someone reaches a crisis point. A person does not have to be thinking about suicide or facing an emergency to reach out to 988. Feeling overwhelmed, emotionally distressed, or worried about someone you care about is reason enough to ask for support.
You do not have to be a mental health professional to check in with someone.
If you are concerned about someone, listen without judgment. Let them know you care. Ask directly about how they are feeling and whether they are thinking about suicide. Asking about suicide does not create suicidal thoughts. It can open the door to an honest conversation and help someone connect with support.
988 is here 24/7
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free, confidential support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. You can call or text 988, or use the online chat.
A trained crisis counselor will listen and help you find support. You can contact 988 for yourself or because you are worried about someone else.
Knowing about 988 before you need it can make it easier to reach out when a difficult moment comes. Consider saving 988 in your phone and sharing it with the people you care about.
Healthy Acadia supports a public health approach to gun safety
At Healthy Acadia, we believe community health includes creating environments where people can be safe, supported, and thrive.
Our approach to gun safety is grounded in public health and prevention. We support Maine's traditions of safe and appropriate firearm use, while also working to reduce preventable injuries and deaths.
Healthy Acadia promotes:
Gun safety education so firearms can be used responsibly and safely.
Secure firearm storage to prevent unauthorized access, particularly by children and people who may be at risk of harming themselves or others.
Access to mental health and crisis supports that can strengthen protective factors and help people through difficult times.
Evidence-based prevention strategies and policies that reduce risk and promote community safety.
Community partnerships and education that help Mainers have practical information and resources to protect themselves and one another.
We believe conversations about gun safety and suicide prevention should be practical, respectful, and free from judgment. Talking about safe storage does not require us to agree on everything about firearms. It simply gives us another opportunity to protect the people in our homes and communities.
Connection is prevention
SAMHSA's message for Suicide Prevention Awareness Month is one we can carry beyond September: connection matters.
A check-in with a friend. A conversation with a family member. Asking a young person how they are really doing. Knowing the warning signs. Having 988 saved in your phone. Making sure firearms are securely stored.
These may seem like small actions. Together, they create a community where people are more likely to be seen, supported, and connected to help.
Suicide prevention is everyone's responsibility, and everyone has a role to play.
September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, but the work continues all year.
Secure firearms. Talk openly about mental health. Check in with someone who may be struggling. Know how to reach 988 before you need it. And if you are worried about someone, do not be afraid to ask for help.
Sometimes prevention is about creating enough time for something to change.
That time can save a life.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is free, confidential and available 24/7 by calling or texting 988.