THE EDUCATIONAL FUND TO STOP GUN VIOLENCE MARKS NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH WEEK
Washington, DC — April 1-7, 2019 marks National Public Health Week — an initiative of the American Public Health Association (APHA). This week provides a crucial opportunity to discuss the public health crisis of gun violence and the evidence-based solutions that can save lives.
Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence Director of Research Translation Vicka Chaplin issued the following statement:
“The Educational Fund to Stop Gun Violence is proud to participate in National Public Health Week as we work to reduce the burden of gun violence. We are committed to applying a public health approach to our nation’s gun violence epidemic and stopping gun violence in all its forms — from homicide to suicide to the day-to-day gun deaths and injuries that rarely make headlines.
“In 2017, nearly 40,000 Americans died from gun violence; nearly 24,000 of these individuals died by firearm suicide. We know these deaths are preventable. We know evidence-based gun laws and interventions work. From enacting extreme risk laws to disarming domestic abusers to engaging impacted communities to training healthcare providers on lethal means counseling for suicide prevention, we are following the research and pursuing effective solutions to gun violence.
“This National Public Health Week, public health professionals and gun violence prevention advocates must come together and call for a public health approach to prevent gun violence. By crafting effective, evidence-based policies, we can improve the overall health of our nation and save lives.”
