January 24, 2024
NSSF’s New BraveConversation.org Website Provides Suicide Prevention Resources and Shareable Graphics
LAS VEGAS — NSSF®, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, has launched BraveConversation.org, a new website with resources for gun owners and their families about caring for mental health and preventing suicide.
“More than 50 percent of firearm-related fatalities are suicide deaths, not homicides or accidents, and by providing education about mental health, secure storage of firearms and how to help someone who’s struggling—having that ‘brave conversation’—we can help save lives,” said Joe Bartozzi, NSSF’s President and CEO. “Suicide is a sensitive topic, but we can talk about suicide and mental health while at the same time respecting Second Amendment rights.”
NSSF announced BraveConversation.org at the SHOT Show®, the firearm industry trade show that brings together manufacturers, wholesalers, firearm retailers, shooting range operators, endemic media and law enforcement professionals from all 50 U.S. states and more than 115 countries. NSSF encourages industry companies, organizations and individuals to use the shareable graphics on BraveConversation.org to raise awareness in the firearm-owning community about the website’s resources and suicide prevention.
One of the shareable graphics makes the point, “Suicide Is Preventable: Help Someone Who’s Struggling. BraveConversation.org.” All the shareable graphics highlight the national call/text 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
The topic of suicide prevention has high visibility at the trade show. NSSF’s Have a Brave Conversation and Project ChildSafe® programs are exhibiting, and NSSF’s partners, the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, are providing educational materials as well. BraveConversation.org highlights NSSF partner resources such as the VA’s REACH program and AFSP’s initiatives.
Show attendees can use a QR code to access an overview of suicide prevention resources on-site during the four days of the SHOT Show.
BraveConversation.org serves as the hub of resources included in the NSSF-AFSP Suicide Prevention Toolkit. The toolkit’s materials were designed for firearm retailers and shooting ranges to display at their facilities to raise awareness among staff and customers about steps to take to help prevent suicide. The toolkit, built around the theme of “Have a Brave Conversation,” includes posters, counter cards, window decals and an educational brochure for customers to take home from the store or range.
More than 8,000 NSSF-AFSP Suicide Prevention Toolkits and more than 800,000 of the Firearms and Suicide Prevention brochures have been distributed since the inception of the program.
Check out BraveConversation.org.
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About NSSF
NSSF is the trade association for the firearm industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearm retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen’s organizations and publishers nationwide. For more information, visit nssf.org.
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NSSF Media contact:
Bill Brassard
203-426-1320 ext. 212
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