Increasing instances of firearm-related suicides among older American males: An investigation
In the quiet, picturesque community of Bailey, Colorado, 7,740 feet above sea level, a troubling trend came to light. On August 9, 2019, Larry Zentz, a 72-year-old man, took his own life by gunshot wound to the right temple.
Zentz, who had relocated to Colorado to settle down with his wife Jeanette Evans, was found next to a retaining wall on their second-story deck. Evans, who had been searching for her husband throughout their home, noticed that his Taurus Tracker revolver was missing.
The suicide of Larry Zentz is part of a rising trend of gun suicides among older Americans. According to an analysis by The Trace, a nonprofit newsroom focusing on gun violence in America, in collaboration with GQ, the suicide rate among people over 70 years old in the United States has seen an increase between 2009 and 2023.
The analysis revealed that older white men die by gun suicide at a rate more than triple that of Black and Latino men of the same age, and 19 times the rate of women 70 and over. Moreover, the rates of gun suicide are particularly high in rural areas, with Park County, Colorado, where Zentz died, having one of the highest rates. In Park County, 51 per 100,000 residents over 70 died by gun suicide, which is in the top 1% of US counties and more than quadruple the rate in nearby Denver County.
The story contains extensive reporting and data about firearm suicides, and includes details that may disturb some readers. It is important to remember that behind every statistic is a life, a family, and a story.
The analysis also showed that Americans aged 70 and over had the highest suicide rates of any age group from 2009 to 2023. Gun suicide is a greater killer of men over 70 than car crashes.
If you or someone you know is struggling, help is available. Dialing 988 from any phone in the US leads to the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, offering one-on-one counseling for mental health, suicide, and substance use-related problems for anyone 24/7. Online chat is also available at 988lifeline.org.
The Trace has a suicide prevention resource guide available for readers. It is our hope that by sharing stories like Larry Zentz's, we can help raise awareness and encourage those in need to seek help.
Read also:
- Hospital's Enhancement of Outpatient Services Alleviates Emergency Department Strain
- Increased Chikungunya infections in UK travelers prompt mosquito bite caution
- Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister holds discussions on the prevailing circumstances in Almaty
- In the state, Kaiser Permanente boasts the top-ranked health insurance program
