The Continuum of Gun Access Prevention: How responsible gun ownership can save lives

This presentation was part of the 6th Annual Mobile Mental Health Crisis Response Summit.

When children and those in a mental health crisis have easy access to firearms, tragedies often occur. There are responsible steps that gun owners can take to prevent such outcomes. These options exist along a continuum of gun access prevention. When gun owners and natural helpers – including loved ones, healthcare providers, counselors, and crisis responders – are educated on and empowered to use these options, lives are saved.

Learning Objectives: Participants will understand the risks of unsecured guns to children and those at risk for harming themselves or others. Participants will understand the continuum of gun access prevention and how to access various interventions. Participants will feel empowered to educate client-patients, loved ones, other professionals and natural helpers on appropriate interventions.

Content Level: General

Presenter: Kathleen Anderson, LGSW, Clinical Social Worker – Everytown for Gun Safety

Bio: Kathleen Anderson is a clinical social worker and mother to three young children residing in St. Paul, MN. She has been a lead organizer for a grassroots gun violence prevention organization for 7 years and now leads their firearm suicide prevention efforts throughout the state of MN. She is passionate about families and communities understanding the role that gun access prevention plays in preventing firearm injury and death, including suicides.