The following message aims to increase your knowledge and understanding of suicide and firearm suicide in America.

We understand that the content may be personal for you.

If you or someone you know is in a time of emotional crisis or needs to talk to someone, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), or text HOME to 741741 to reach the Crisis Text Line for free from anywhere in the US.

John–

Pip was a real Minnesota outdoors guy: he preferred being outdoors to indoors and was not afraid of rugged hikes or extreme conditions. He worked at a ski resort in Montana and he loved to sail, ski, camp, fish, and hunt.

I became a gun violence survivor on August 21, 2001, when Pip, my youngest brother, took the hunting gun that our grandfather had given him and shot and killed himself.

Today, I am an advocate for firearm suicide prevention, and for eliminating the stigma of suicide and depression that so deeply affected my brother.

This National Gun Violence Survivors Week, please read and share the stories of gun violence survivors, including survivors of firearm suicide.

In the last ten years, firearm suicide has gotten worse in the U.S. The firearm suicide rate increased by 13 percent during that time, meaning that a gun suicide death now occurs in the U.S. every 22 minutes on average.

As a movement, we can prevent firearm suicide and end this crisis. We can practice secure gun storage, a simple action that can help make sure a bad day doesn't turn into a deadly day for gun owners. We can also educate others about the risk factors of suicide—including current life stressors, historical risk factors, and access to firearms—which can create a sense of hopelessness and despair. We can work to make sure that people like my brother Pip don't have access to firearms when they're in the middle of a crisis.

John, this National Gun Violence Survivors Week, please join me in remembering my brother Pip and the millions of Americans who have lost loved ones to firearm suicide. Read and share the stories of gun violence survivors today.

Before my brother died, he owned a compass that he used when working on an archaeological dig after he graduated from college. He once held it in his hands to help him find his way.

I hope as a gun violence survivor and a suicide prevention advocate, I will be able to help other people like Pip find their way.

Thank you for reading my story, and I hope you will read and share the stories of other survivors of gun violence this National Gun Violence Survivors Week.

With love,

Marit Brock
Everytown Survivor Network