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Avenues Recovery Center is a drug and alcohol rehab in Pennsylvania with seventeen locations across seven states. Our state blog offers the latest on all addiction-related news in Pennsylvania, keeping you updated on the rise and fall of current events in your area.
As the majority of gun-related deaths in Pennsylvania now stem from suicide, the Shapiro-Davis administration is taking action. This week, the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) announced a $1 million investment aimed at reducing firearm suicides across the state. The funding will support a range of local and regional programs focused on prevention, intervention, and recovery.
While firearm homicides have been on the decline, suicide by gun continues to rise—especially in rural communities, among youth, and within the Black population. In 2022, more than half of all firearm deaths in the state were suicides, underscoring what health officials describe as a growing public health crisis.
“Firearm suicide is an urgent and rising issue across our Commonwealth,” said Kirsten Kenyon, Executive Director of PCCD. “This funding is a strategic investment in the kind of community-based support that saves lives and promotes healing.”
According to the official website of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, grants will be awarded to a mix of local governments, nonprofits, universities, and state agencies, with priority given to underserved and high-need communities. Funded projects may include:
This initiative builds on ongoing efforts to tackle gun violence in Pennsylvania but shifts the focus toward suicide—often overlooked in the broader gun safety conversation. By emphasizing local solutions and improving access to resources, the state hopes to better support those most at risk before a crisis becomes a tragedy.
If you or someone you love is facing a mental health crisis or struggling with thoughts of suicide, you're not alone. Reach out to Avenues Recovery today. Our team is here with compassion, expertise, and real support. Help is closer than you think—and hope starts with asking.