It’s In Our Lane: The Role of Behavioral Health Providers in Preventing Firearm Injuries Among Older Adults

Firearm access presents unique considerations for older adults, particularly in the context of cognitive decline, dementia, and elevated suicide risk. Yet many clinicians feel uncertain about how to approach conversations about firearm safety, and most older adults have not developed a plan for the future management of their firearms.

This webinar will provide an overview of firearm-related risks among older adults and explore practical, trauma-informed approaches to promoting safety while preserving dignity and autonomy.

Participants will learn…

1. The benefits of secure firearm storage practices,

2. How to conduct firearm safety screening and provide lethal means counseling in clinical settings, and

3. When an Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) may be an appropriate intervention.

Through real-world examples and practical guidance, attendees will gain strategies to engage older adults and their families in compassionate conversations about advance planning and firearm safety.

Presented by:

Jenn Reed, PhD, MPH is a postdoctoral scholar at the Gun Violence Prevention Research Center at Oregon Health & Science University. Dr. Reed previously worked in law enforcement as a civilian manager. For her dissertation she performed a trauma-informed analysis of law enforcement agency mental health wellness policies. Her other research interests include supporting care partners of people living with dementia, with an emphasis on firearm safety, and the psychological well-being of people who work in violence prevention and response.

Rebecca Valek, MSPH is a research project coordinator with the Oregon Health & Science University’s Gun Violence Prevention Research Center. Rebecca’s research focuses on evaluating Oregon’s Extreme Risk Protection Order law through mixed-methods research, increasing timely access to firearm injury data, and building collaboration across sectors and communities to address the firearm injury epidemic. Rebecca graduated from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health with her Master of Science in Public Health in Health Policy and Management in May 2024.