Means Safety Subcommittee

A major aspect of Suicide Prevention is limiting access to lethal options, or means, of ending one's life. 

Putting time and distance between a person and a means of suicide gives them more 

opportunities to stop and reconsider their choice. 

Limiting access to lethal means provides a barrier between suicidal urges and suicidal actions. 

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Example:      A firearm that is loaded and only hidden is easy to access when having suicidal urges.

When a firearm is in a safe with a gunlock on it, a person having suicidal urges must first unlock the safe, unlock the gunlock, and load the weapon. 

Each extra step in accessing the firearm is an opportunity for that person to rethink their decision. 

Proper firearm storage is essential as part of an overall suicide prevention strategy! If you need a lock for your firearm, you can acquire one for FREE, no questions asked, from:

• Cortland City Police - 25 Court St, Cortland

• Cortland County Clerk’s Office - 46 Greenbush St. #105, Cortland

• Cortland County Mental Health Department - 25 Clayton Ave, Cortland

• Family and Children's Counseling Services - 165 Main St, Cortland 

• Access to Independence - 26 N. Main St, Cortland

• Cortland Free Library - 32 Church St, Cortland

• Peck Memorial Library - 24 E. Main St, Marathon

• Cortland County Healthy Neighborhoods Program - Call (607) 428-5410 for a delivery to your home

Struggling with your mental health and looking for a safe (and temporary) place to store your firearm?  Click here to view a map with locations and storage requirements.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), in conjunction with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), developed a Suicide Prevention Toolkit to help firearms retailers, shooting range operators and customers understand risk factors and warning signs related to suicide, know where to find help and encourage secure firearms storage options. NSSF asks retailers and ranges to participate in this program because doing so can help save lives. Get the toolkit by clicking here.

Proper storage and respect of firearms is an essential component for suicide prevention. Click the buttons below for more information regarding storage, locks, and more. We highly recommend the firearm safety and mental health video, which was created by the suicide prevention coalition of Erie County. Please be sure to review the trigger warnings on their website before viewing the video.

Free NSSF Toolkit

Firearm Safety & Mental Health Video

Map of NYS Storage Options

How to Use a Gun Lock (Video)

• You can ask your pharmacist to dispense medications in blister packages (where you have to open each dose separately).

• There are drug disposal kiosks to dispose of drugs at any time. Find them by Clicking Here.  

• Additionally, you can bring any unused medications to the biannual Drug Take Back Events.

There are multiple agencies in Cortland County where you can get trained to administer Narcan, a lifesaving medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. Click here to learn more and get a list of agencies and contact info to inquire about the training.

• The committee, in collaboration with local law enforcement, is exploring the possibility of installing signs with suicide crisis phone numbers at area bridges.