Exposure to gun violence is associated with suicidal behavior among black adults

Black adults who have been exposed to gun violence are more likely to have suicidal thoughts over their lifetime, according to a study by Rutgers Health researchers.

The study, published in Open JAMA Networkfound that black adults who were shot, threatened with a gun, knew someone who was shot, or witnessed or heard about a shooting are at increased risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

Nearly 49,000 people died from gun violence in 2021, the highest number of gun-related deaths on record, and approximately 85,000 non-fatal shootings occurred. During the same year, the overall suicide rate increased by 44 percent among the black population. However, few studies to date have examined the association between exposure to interpersonal gun violence and suicide risk in the black population.

“The recent increase in suicide rates among Black Americans calls for a deeper understanding of the underlying causes,” said Daniel Semenza, director of interpersonal violence research at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center (GVRC), based at Rutgers Public Health. “It is crucial to explore the extent to which disproportionate exposure to high levels of gun violence may impact mental health and contribute to elevated suicide risk.”

Researchers surveyed 3,015 Black adults, of whom 56% were exposed to at least one type of gun violence and 12% were exposed to at least three types. They found that being threatened with a gun or knowing someone who had been shot was associated with lifetime suicidal ideation and attempts. Being shot was associated with the individual planning suicide at least once.

“Violence harms mental health,” Semenza said. “Our study found that exposure to gun violence, whether experienced directly or indirectly, is associated with increased suicidal thoughts and behaviors among Black adults. This suggests a possible link between interpersonal violence and self-directed violence.”

“These findings highlight how exposure to gun violence, particularly repeated exposure, can influence an individual’s likelihood of thinking about suicide or even engaging in suicidal behavior,” says Mike Anestis, executive director and co-author of the GVRC. “Given the disproportionate risk of exposure to gun violence among Black adults, this means that the Black community faces a particularly high risk of being in an environment that could lead to tragedy.”