Secure & Protect Initiative
Firearms are the most used method of suicide in Johnson County and Kansas. They account for 59% of all suicide deaths in Kansas and 50% of all suicide deaths in Johnson County. The percentage is even higher among Veterans, as 77% of Veterans who die by suicide in Kansas use a firearm.
However, many gun owners may not seek help or appropriate resources during mental health struggles due to stigma and misconceptions about firearm ownership and mental health. In a recent survey, over 70% of gun owners surveyed cited fear of losing their firearms as the top concern preventing them from seeking mental health services.
The Secure and Protect Initiative works to promote responsible firearm ownership and increase mental health awareness in the gun-owning community. We partner with gun retailers, co-responders, law enforcement and trusted community partners to provide education, training, resources and safe storage options that reduce firearm-related crises and protect lives in Johnson County.
Join the Initiative
Whether you’re a gun owner, first responder, retailer, or mental health professional, you can help create a culture of trust and understanding that encourages meaningful conversations about suicide prevention and responsible storage solutions. To learn more about how you can help, please contact Prevention Coordinator Mallory Gevertz at 913-715-7886 or mallory.gevertz@jocogov.org.
Our Projects
- Distributing gun safes to co-responders, law enforcement, clinicians and firearm retailers.
- Piloting voluntary firearm storage through local gun shops as part of The Armory Project.
- Offering training and education on suicide prevention and firearm culture to community professionals and organizations.
- Providing mental health resources and materials to the gun-owning community.
Voluntary Firearm Storage
Research shows that a suicide attempt often happens within five to 10 minutes of the decision to act. Creating time and distance between someone in crisis and a firearm can save lives.
We have partnered with The Armory Project (TAP), which includes trusted firearm retailers like Up in Arms Kansas, to prevent suicide by facilitating safe, voluntary out-of-home firearm storage. By expanding secure firearm storage options, individuals and families can protect themselves and their loved ones without uncomfortable or unnecessary restrictions.
Johnson County gun shop owners, firearm instructors, veterans and firearm owners who want to help prevent firearm suicide are invited to be a part of The Armory Project.
Additional Resources
Secure Firearm Storage
- Responsible Firearm Storage - Walk The Talk America
- Safe Storage Options for Your Firearms - NSSF
- Safe Firearm Storage - Community Partnership of the Ozarks
- Firearm Safety in Your Vehicle - The Armory Project
Safety Planning
- Mental Health Plan Questions - Walk The Talk America
- Cause A Pause - Walk The Talk America
- Make a Safety Plan - My Safety Plan
- The Safety Plan App - U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs
- Reducing Firearm Risks for Veterans and Their Families - U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs
Resources for Retailers
- Firearm Instructors Mental Health Resource Videos - Walk The Talk America
- Suicide Prevention Toolkit for Firearms Instructors - American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
Resources for Mental Health Professionals
- Counseling on Access to Lethal Means - Zero Suicide
- The Intersection of Guns and Mental Health - Walk The Talk America
- Lethal Means Safety Counseling - U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
- Means Safety Messaging for Clinical Staff - U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Resources for Parents and Families
- Have a Conversation with Your Kids about Gun Safety - Project ChildSafe
- Mental Health, Suicide Prevention and Firearm Safety - Project ChildSafe
- Ten Tips for Firearm Safety in Your Home (Spanish) - Project ChildSafe
Our Partners
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