What is the Lethal Means Safety Committee?
This Committee looks closer at lethal means and originally started as the Firearm Safety and Lethal Means Reduction workgroup. As the leading means for death by suicide is firearms, the initial focus of this group was on firearm safety. The workgroup tasked themselves with holding focus groups for members of the firearm community and met with firearm and gun shop owners across the state on what they think is important in suicide prevention and how to talk with them about the subject. This project resulted in five recommendations from the firearm community on how to engage with them. Recommendations started to be put into place within a year with the creation of the Oregon Firearm Safety Coalition. With this project completed, the group designation changed to a standing Committee and the focus of work changed from solely looking at firearms as a means to the second and third leading means of suicide in Oregon – suffocation and poisoning.
This Committee currently meets the first Thursday of the month from 2:00 PM – 3:15 PM virtually. To join, please go to this link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89796541408?pwd=OGpPRVArcDhTS1MzWml3YUhaZHV3dz09 and can also be joined by calling 669.900.9128,,89796541408#,,,,*651946#
Below are the dates that the meetings have been held and when they will be held. Meeting agendas are posted at least seven days before the meeting and meeting minutes will be posted within seven days post meeting.
To see previous meeting minutes and materials, go here.
If you have questions about this Committee, please email Alliance staff Jenn Fraga at jfraga@aocmhp.org.
CONTENT WARNING
This group talks about the types of lethal means used in suicide attempts and deaths. If you need to speak with someone due to feelings that come up from engaging in this meeting, please call or text 988.