Child and Adolescent Firearm Deaths: National Trends and Variation by Demographics and States Author: Nirmita Panchal Published: Mar 12, 2026

https://www.kff.org/mental-health/child-and-adolescent-firearm-deaths-national-trends-and-variation-by-demographics-and-states/?utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8vZxNHFbPVAE5AhApfykwhSiLnR4SZj9QzkfuCghmNclYft09cXM0wFffZM5phEdjn-cxBJ_Dv4Qc_nrnJaOc51KB8aA&_hsmi=408481137&utm_content=408481137&utm_source=hs_email KFF Examines the Latest Data on Child and Adolescent Firearm Deaths New briefs from KFF analyze the latest mortality data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and explore the impacts of gun violence on children and adolescents, including changes in death rates over time and by demographics, methods of gun violence exposure, and how gun violence can affect mental health and well-being. Over the past decade, nearly 22,000 youth ages 17 and younger died by firearm. Data show that firearm death rates among this population increased at the onset of the pandemic, primarily driven by gun assaults. From 2021 to 2023, the firearm death rate held steady at 3.5 per 100,000 children and adolescents, before declining to 3.0 in 2024, but remaining above pre-pandemic levels. States vary widely by firearm death rate, although high rates are more common in Southern states. Firearm deaths are more common among adolescents (ages 12-17) than younger children; Black and American Indian and Alaska Native children and adolescents than their White peers; and male children and adolescents than female. Firearm suicides continue to account for a large share of all child and adolescent firearm deaths (31% in 2024). Looked at another way, 45% of all suicide deaths among this population involved firearms in 2024, data show. A second analysis examines the impact of gun violence on youth mental health and well-being. For every firearm fatality, there are at least two survivors of firearm injuries. A growing body of research links gun violence exposure – both direct and indirect – to adverse impacts on the mental health and well-being of youth. Examining School Shootings at the National and State Level and Mental Health Implications Authors: Nirmita Panchal and Sasha Zitter Published: Mar 18, 2025 https://www.kff.org/mental-health/examining-school-shootings-at-the-national-and-state-level-and-mental-health-implications/?utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-9JUqyffrOUL3tlyuPqEaCAEVtf7Sb0lyw-mvxtGco_ujJ-8AgZh86CYIBUfeGGbniOnclr76gCLesEcMGXy2YAikWwTA&_hsmi=408481137&utm_content=408481137&utm_source=hs_email Contact: Chris Lee | (202) 654-1403 | ChrisL@kff.org