Firearms on College Campuses: Study Findings on Safety Perceptions and Suicide Risk
March 5, 2026 | 2:00pm-3:00pm ET
Presenters: Tara Krystyna Shollenberger, Ed.D. and Marjorie Sanfilippo, Ph.D
College campuses are facing an unprecedented mental health crisis. Suicide is now the second leading cause of death among college students, with approximately 1,100 students dying by suicide each year in the United States. Although 27% of these deaths involve firearms, this figure is notably lower than the 52% firearm involvement seen among individuals of the same age in the general population.
To better understand how campus carry policies intersect with student safety and well-being, the presenters will share findings from a 2025 study of 195 campus professionals. Participants included 45 campus safety officers, 43 clinical counselors, and 107 behavioral intervention team members.
The results revealed that campuses that allow concealed carry reported significantly higher rates of firearm suicides than campuses that prohibit weapons (χ² = 6.64, p < .01). These campuses also experienced more tense conversations about firearms (p = .006), more verbal threats involving firearms (p = .032), and more open displays of firearms (p = .012).
Taken together, these findings suggest that campus carry policies may increase suicide risk among an already vulnerable population and negatively impact campus climate. This session explores what this data means for suicide prevention efforts, institutional policy development, and the future of campus mental health and safety services.