Nearly 22,000 Youth Ages 17 and Younger Died by Firearm Over the Past Decade

A look at the mortality data and impact on youth mental health and well-being. ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­  

The independent source for health policy research, polling, and news. The independent source for health policy research, polling, and news. NEW & NOTEWORTHY KFF Examines the Latest Data on Child and Adolescent Firearm Deaths New briefs from KFF analyze the latest mortality data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and explore the impacts of gun violence on children and adolescents, including changes in death rates over time and by demographics, methods of gun violence exposure, and how gun violence can affect mental health and well-being.   Over the past decade, nearly 22,000 youth ages 17 and younger died by firearm. Data show that firearm death rates among this population increased at the onset of the pandemic, primarily driven by gun assaults. From 2021 to 2023, the firearm death rate held steady at 3.5 per 100,000 children and adolescents, before declining to 3.0 in 2024, but remaining above pre-pandemic levels. States vary widely by firearm death rate, although high rates are more common in Southern states.   Firearm deaths are more common among adolescents (ages 12-17) than younger children; Black and American Indian and Alaska Native children and adolescents than their White peers; and male children and adolescents than female. Firearm suicides continue to account for a large share of all child and adolescent firearm deaths (31% in 2024). Looked at another way,  45% of all suicide deaths among this population involved firearms in 2024, data show.   A second analysis examines the impact of gun violence on youth mental health and well-being. For every firearm fatality, there are at least two survivors of firearm injuries. A growing body of research links gun violence exposure – both direct and indirect – to adverse impacts on the mental health and well-being of youth. Related Examining School Shootings at the National and State Level and Mental Health Implications. Full analysis → Contact: Chris Lee | (202) 654-1403 | ChrisL@kff.org  When citing our work, please note our legal name is KFF. We should be cited as KFF, a nonprofit health policy research, polling, and news organization. Our name is no longer the Kaiser Family Foundation.  Did someone forward this to you? Sign up for emails from KFF. This email was sent to awesomeblogger71.lificletter@blogger.com. Update your email preferences to choose the types of emails you receive. Or, permanently unsubscribe from all future emails. Need assistance? Email subscriptions@kff.org; do not reply to this email. The independent source for health policy research, polling, and news. KFF, 185 Berry Street, Suite 2000, San Francisco, CA 94107