$1 million announced to combat gun-related suicides in Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) is taking action to address Pennsylvania's growing gun-related suicide crisis with a new $1 million initiative announced by the Commission on Monday.

The funding, made available through the federal Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program (SCIP), aims to support community based strategies that prevent, intervene in and respond to gun-related suicides throughout the commonwealth. 

Kirsten Kenyon, Executive Director of PCCD is quoted in a press release saying gun-related suicide is an urgent and rising public health issue across Pennsylvania, particularly affecting youth, Black Pennsylvanians and rural communities. 

"This new funding is a strategic investment in the kinds of targeted, community-based solutions we know can save lives and promote healing. We look forward to advancing statewide and local projects that can deliver bold, data-driven solutions that meet people where they are and offer hope before, during, and after a crisis," Kenyon said.

The fiscal year 2024 SCIP Firearm Suicide Prevention, Intervention and Postvention Initiative will award between four to six competitive grants across two tracks.

Regional or statewide efforts can receive up to $500,000 for initiatives that span three or more counties or have a broad statewide impact. While local projects may receive up to $150,000 to support targeted, community-specific programs.

Priority will be given to proposals that serve high need areas, including rural regions and counties with suicide rates above the state average. Eligible applicants include local governments, nonprofits, state agencies and colleges or universities. 

The funds can support a variety or evidence-based initiatives, such as public awareness campaigns, safe firearm storage programs, crisis intervention and postvention efforts and improving access to timely data to inform future prevention work. 

Key dates include:

• June 23, 2025 – Application opens
• July 21, 2025 – Informational webinar for potential applicants
• September 9, 2025 – Application deadline
• January 1, 2026 – Projects begin

Interested applicants can review the full announcement and register for the webinar via PCCD’s Active Funding Announcement webpage or contact the agency directly at RA-PCCD-OCJSI@pa.gov.