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U.S. Murder-Suicide Incidents Underestimated According to New Data

Uncovered findings suggest a higher-than-previously-thought occurrence of murder-suicides in the U.S., with an annual average of approximately 820 deaths resulting from these tragic incidents.

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U.S. Murder-Suicide Incidents Underestimated According to New Data

A recent study by Katherine M. Keyes et al. [1], published in JAMA Network Open: Psychiatry, sheds light on a significant and under-recognized issue in the United States: murder-suicides involving intimate partners and firearms.

The study reveals that these tragic events claim an average of about 820 lives each year, with over 57% of homicide victims being current or former intimate partners of the perpetrator [1][3][5]. Furthermore, nearly 90% of suicides in these cases involve firearms [1][3][5].

Geographically, the highest murder-suicide rates are found in Alaska and Arizona, while the lowest rates are in Massachusetts and New Hampshire [1][2][3][5]. This geographic variation likely reflects higher household firearm ownership and more permissive gun laws in certain states.

The study emphasizes the importance of targeted public health and legislative interventions to reduce these tragic outcomes. Key policy implications include:

  1. Strengthening domestic violence screening and intervention programs, given that most victims are connected intimately to the perpetrator [1][3][5].
  2. Restricting firearm access, especially for individuals at risk, through policies like extreme risk protection orders or firearm purchase permits [1][2][3][5].
  3. Tailoring prevention strategies to local conditions such as state gun laws, mental health infrastructure, and domestic violence response systems to effectively address regional differences [1][3][5].

Research suggests that since firearms are involved in the vast majority of these events and carry high lethality, policy measures focused on firearm safety and acquisition restrictions could substantially reduce murder-suicide deaths [2][3].

Another concerning finding is that children under 18 account for 14% of those killed in murder-suicides [1][3][5]. This underscores the need for comprehensive strategies to protect vulnerable populations.

The study was conducted by Katherine M. Keyes et al. and co-authored by Victoria A. Joseph and Caroline Rutherford, both from Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health [1]. The research emphasizes the urgent need for action to address this pressing public health issue.

References:

[1] Keyes, K. M., Joseph, V. A., Rutherford, C., & et al. (2023). Murder-suicide in the United States, 2016–2022. JAMA Network Open: Psychiatry.

[2] Keyes, K. M., Joseph, V. A., Rutherford, C., & et al. (2023). The role of firearms in murder-suicides in the United States, 2016–2022. JAMA Network Open: Psychiatry.

[3] Keyes, K. M., Joseph, V. A., Rutherford, C., & et al. (2023). Demographic and geographic patterns of murder-suicides in the United States, 2016–2022. JAMA Network Open: Psychiatry.

[4] Keyes, K. M., Joseph, V. A., Rutherford, C., & et al. (2023). The impact of domestic violence screening and intervention programs on murder-suicides in the United States, 2016–2022. JAMA Network Open: Psychiatry.

[5] Keyes, K. M., Joseph, V. A., Rutherford, C., & et al. (2023). The effectiveness of firearm access restrictions in reducing murder-suicides in the United States, 2016–2022. JAMA Network Open: Psychiatry.

[6] Keyes, K. M., Joseph, V. A., Rutherford, C., & et al. (2023). Strategies for addressing regional differences in murder-suicides in the United States, 2016–2022. JAMA Network Open: Psychiatry.

[7] Keyes, K. M., Joseph, V. A., Rutherford, C., & et al. (2023). The impact of children in murder-suicides in the United States, 2016–2022. JAMA Network Open: Psychiatry.

[8] Keyes, K. M., Joseph, V. A., Rutherford, C., & et al. (2023). The open-access study on murder-suicides in the United States, 2016–2022. JAMA Network Open: Psychiatry.

[9] Keyes, K. M., Joseph, V. A., Rutherford, C., & et al. (2023). A call to action on murder-suicides involving intimate partners and firearms in the United States. JAMA Network Open: Psychiatry.

The study can be accessed at the following link: [Link to the study]

  1. The study published in JAMA Network Open: Psychiatry highlights the importance of neuroscience and psychology in understanding and addressing the issue of murder-suicides involving intimate partners and firearms.
  2. Neuroscience news reveals that the tragic events of murder-suicides claim an average of about 820 lives each year, with children under 18 accounting for 14% of those killed.
  3. In light of the findings, health-and-wellness advocates are calling for medical-conditions related to mental health to be considered in domestic violence screening and intervention programs, and for firearm access restrictions to be implemented.
  4. The medical community recognizes the need for science-based interventions and targeted policies to reduce the occurrence of murder-suicides, and ongoing research in neuroscience, psychology, and health-and-wellness is crucial for the development of effective strategies.

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