top of page
Sunrise over mountains in Western North Dakota.

Lethal Means Safety

How to Keep Yourself and Your Loved Ones Safe

While some people think about suicide for weeks, months, or even years before acting on their thoughts, many people attempt suicide shortly after experiencing a crisis.  Because of this, it is important to reduce access to anything in a person’s environment that they could use to hurt themselves.

​

There are different methods that people use to attempt suicide, but in North Dakota, firearms are the most common way people die by suicide.

Folded pamphlet with the title "Everyone has a role to play in preventing suicide".

Download, Print, and Save the Community Care Card

Requesting Firearm Secure Storage and Safety Devices

If you're interested in obtaining firearm secure storage and safety devices, ND HOPES is here to help. Through this brief form, we aim to better understand the specific needs of North Dakota individuals and organizations seeking these devices and to track the distribution of available materials. We are able to offer cable locks, biometric trigger locks, and biometric cabinet locks, depending on current stock and project funding. While we strive to fulfill all requests, the availability of these items cannot be guaranteed. Please take a moment to complete the form with as much detail as possible.

​

​We’ve also partnered with ONNAIS, a gun lock producer and supplier, to make purchasing biometric gun locks more affordable. Use our referral link and enter NDHOPES20 at checkout for 20% off the regular price.

Already Received Your Gun Lock Materials?

If you’ve already received your firearm secure storage materials, we’ve provided guidance to help you set up and use your locks. For Biometric Trigger Locks, we’ve provided additional video guidance to ensure proper programming and verification. Click below to access these resources and start using your gun locks securely.

Biometric Trigger Lock Setup & Verification Instructions

A flyer with instructions on how to install and maintain a biometric trigger lock.

Biometric Cabinet Lock Setup & Verification Instructions

A flyer with instructions on how to install and maintain a biometric cabinet lock.

Cable Lock Instructions

A flyer with instructions on how to install and maintain a cabinet lock.

We’d love to hear how your locks are working out! ​

After setting up your devices, feel free to reach out to us at info@ndhopes.com to share your experience, ask any questions, or provide feedback.

Did You Know?
2 stick figures in green, 3 stick figures in orange

In North Dakota, nearly 3 in 5 suicides are by firearm.

84%

84% of firearm deaths are suicides.

90%

Firearms are very lethal.
90% of suicide attempts by firearm end in death.

Leaving firearms unlocked and loaded increases risk of suicide.

Lethal Means Safety Trainings 2026

Register for upcoming free, virtual 2026 trainings provided by ND HOPES in partnership with ND THRIVES and Governor’s Challenge ND.

 

Read on to find the training that best fits your role and needs. 

CALM Clinical Workshop

3-hour virtual workshop

for clinicans

 

Build skills for collaborative conversations about safe storage of medications and firearms.


Dates and Times:

March 5th | 8:30am-12:00pm

June 2nd | 12:30pm-4:00pm

September 3rd | 8:30am-12:00pm  

CALM Conversations

2-hour virtual workshop

for general public

 

Learn how you can support someone at risk of suicide with a focus on lethal means safety. 


Dates and Times:

March 10th | 5:00-7:00pm

June 9th | 10:00am-12:00pm

September 14th | 5:00-7:00pm

Safety Planning Workshop

3-hour virtual workshop

for clinicians & crisis responders

 

Learn how to conduct a collaborative Safety Planning Intervention with people at risk of suicide. 

 

Dates and Times:

March 18th | 1:30-3:00pm

June 15th | 9:30-11:00am

September 17th | 2:00-3:30pm  

Here are some tips for approaching conversations about firearm safety:

  • Be direct, empathetic, and respectful.

  • Emphasize your desire to keep the person safe.

  • Directly ask about firearms and any intent to buy firearms.

  • Explain how easy access to lethal means increases suicide risk.

  • Discuss available options for safe storage of lethal means.

  • Emphasize that these actions are temporary.

  • Explore barriers to safer storage options.

Consider the following steps to improve firearm safety:

  • Store firearms unloaded, locked, and secured.

    • Consider a cable or trigger lock, or a gun safe.

  • Store the key to the gun lock and ammunition separately from the firearm.

  • Temporarily store firearms away from the home during times of high stress.

    • Enlist the help of a trusted friend, family member, or colleague to remove firearms.

Other ways to stay safe:

  • Prescription medication and pills

    • These can be given to a parent, caregiver, or trusted person to lock up safely or brought to a pharmacy or police department for disposal.

  • Ropes

    • Remove these from the home during periods of increased risk.

  • Sharp objects (razors, knives, scissors, etc.)

    • Remove from the daily environment; ask for help from family members to supervise use of any of these sharp objects.

For more information on how to help someone who is thinking of suicide, someone who has experienced a suicide loss, or yourself please visit this webpage.​

​Learn more and access the 8-minute online training Suicide Prevention and the Secure Storage of Firearms: Conversations for Everyone

If you are a gun shop or range owner and want to know more about the unique role you can play in preventing suicide, email our team.

Produced by the North Dakota Suicide Prevention Coalition, this flyer provides clickable links to safety planning, lethal means safety, and other crisis resources. Safety plans provide a personalized list of coping strategies, sources of support, and crisis resources to keep individuals safe and prevent them from acting on their suicidal thoughts.

bottom of page