Bucks County officials recently announced a new initiative pairing suicide prevention resources with concealed carry permits.
The goal, officials said, is to provide lifesaving information directly to gun owners.
Included with every new and renewed concealed carry permit will be a suicide prevention card. The cards contain crucial information on how to recognize sudden overwhelming feelings of distress and encourage those experiencing such feelings to contact the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 9-8-8, Ellis-Marseglia said
“As a social worker, I’m concerned about people who feel suicidal. I also lost a child to suicide, so it’s something that’s very important to me,” Marseglia said. “I’m glad to be able to partner with Sheriff Harran on this important effort.”
Statistics show that men over 55 are the highest risk group for suicide, and access to firearms can significantly increase the risk, county records show.
Mareglia, who has a background in social work and personally experienced the loss of a child to suicide, has been dedicated to the cause to preventing suicides. She facilitated the creation of the county suicide prevention task force that exists today in 2013.
Harran, a 38-year veteran in law enforcement, shared his experiences dealing access to firearms and mental health crisis
“I can’t even begin to count the amount of times that we had to tell a parent or a loved one that their loved one has died by firearm or suicide,” he said. “Call. We want to be here to help you in that time of crisis.”
For additional information on obtaining a concealed carry permit or to learn more about suicide prevention efforts in Bucks County, residents can visit the sheriff’s office website or the Bucks County Suicide Prevention Task Force.
