Date of Publication
2025
Project Team
Jillian A. Leikauskas, RN, MPH Department of Nursing, University of Vermont DNP Project Advisor: Dr. Jean Pelski, PhD, APRN DNP Agency Co-Mentors: Ellen Arrowsmith, MSW and Dr. Thomas Delaney, PhD
Abstract
This project evaluated the distribution of safety kits and the impact of training on provider comfort in counseling at-risk youth (ages 13–24) on lethal means safety.. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among individuals aged 10 to 24 in the U.S. Lethal means reduction is a key suicide prevention strategy that limits access to highly fatal methods. Over 90 days, medication lockboxes and gun locks were distributed to a naturopathic and a psychiatric clinic. Providers received training and completed pre- and post-intervention surveys. Six of sixteen medication safety toolkits were distributed, while zero of sixteen gun safety toolkits were utilized. Providers primarily relied upon identifying life stressors such as parental divorce, bullying, and breakups as triggers for kit distribution, and only occasionally relied upon suicide screening tools. Initial surveys showed providers were more comfortable discussing medication safety than firearm access. After the intervention, provider comfort at the naturopathic clinic decreased. In contrast, psychiatric clinic providers reported either increased or unchanged comfort levels. Notably, 93% of psychiatric clinic providers had prior training in lethal means access, whereas none of the naturopathic clinic providers had. These findings emphasize the need for additional and repeated provider training in lethal means, and especially firearm safety, discussions. Future interventions should prioritize distributing safety kits based on provider assessments of patients’ mental health status rather than relying solely on suicide screenings.
Document Type
Dissertation/Thesis
Recommended Citation
Leikauskas, Jillian; Pelski, Jean; Delaney, Thomas; and Arrowsmith, Ellen, "Reducing Lethal Means Access Through Education and Safety Tools Distribution" (2025). College of Nursing and Health Sciences Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) Project Publications. 181.
https://scholarworks.uvm.edu/cnhsdnp/181
