Today’s episode addresses the myth, “If access to one method of suicide is restricted, will another method be used instead?”

Brooke and Adam speak to Dr. James C. West, host of the critically acclaimed podcast “Let’s Talk About Your Guns” a series that discusses gun safety by unpacking real-life scenarios. Listen in as Dr. West talks about the impulsivity around the act of suicide and why ready access to means matters. Lastly, we learn about the five principles of firearm storage and how you can start implementing them in your life today.

Dr. James C. West graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School in 2001 and the Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Virginia Psychiatry Residency Program in 2005. He currently serves as an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and a Scientist at the Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, Uniformed Services University of the Health Science. Prior to these assignments, he worked as a military psychiatrist and deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan as an Operational Stress Control and Readiness psychiatrist and later in leadership roles as the Deputy Commander of Behavioral Health at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Dr. West is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and has presented to the APA on numerous occasions on physician and patient conversations on firearm safety. In addition, he has participated in the forum on health and family firearm safety and created an online course for the APA on firearm safety.

https://www.cstsonline.org/suicide-prevention-program/podcasts/lets-talk-about-your-guns