Firearms and suicide: Finding the right words

Abstract

As emergency physicians, we're used to asking patients about sensitive topics. We overcame discomfort by practicing questions like "Do you have sex with men, women or both?" until the words flowed smoothly. In lectures, I urge providers to counsel suicidal patients about firearm access, given that reducing lethal means access can save lives.^1,2 But early on, I didn't know how to talk about firearms without offending my patients.

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