WIP 29 - Examination of State Gun Legislation Policies and Pediatric Suicide Mortality Among Straight, Cisgender, and LGBTQIA+ Youth 2018-2021

Publication Number: WIP 29.7586

Meghan Wilson, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Cheshire, CT, United States; Amy Hunter, UCONN Health, Newington, CT, United States; Susie DiVietro, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, UCONN School of Medicine, Hartford, CT, United States; Sharon Smith, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Hartford, CT, United States

Background: Since 2020 firearms are the leading cause of pediatric deaths in the US. Prior to 2020 it has been shown that pediatric firearm-related morbidity and mortality rates are inverse to stricter state firearm legislation. In the past decade pediatric mental health conditions and suicide rates have markedly risen. Youth who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, or asexual (LGBTQIA+) are at higher risk for suicide in comparison to cisgender and heterosexual peers. Given this surge of child firearm-related deaths it is important to further investigate the association between state firearm laws and pediatric firearm suicides especially for more vulnerable populations.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between pediatric firearm suicide mortality for all children 10-17 years of age and state firearm legislation using data from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) and Giffords Law Center Scorecards from 2018-2021. We will also explore these deaths among those who identified as LGBTQIA+ and having a known mental health condition respectively.

Design/Methods: NVDRS has a restricted access database (RAD) that contains deidentified, case-level data. We have CDC approval to access the RAD and Giffords Law Center to access gun scorecards. Our study has IRB exemption status. Outcome variables include firearm suicides among children 10-17 years of age as well as those who identified as LGBTQIA+ and having a mental health condition. The primary exposure variable is the Giffords Law Center Scorecards. Decedent demographic characteristics will be analyzed using standard descriptive statistics. Poisson regression will be used to measure the associations of state firearm law scores with all pediatric firearm suicide deaths, those who identify as non-cisgender or non-heterosexual, and those with mental health history. We will use qualitative content analysis to review law enforcement and medical examiner narratives for LGBTQIA+ decedents. All data analysis is expected to be completed by March 2025.