Michael Anestis, PhD, is a leading expert on guns and suicide. He is the Nina Bell Suggs Professor of Psychology and Chair of Clinical Admissions at the University of Southern Mississippi. His research interests include suicide risk factors and firearms, the capacity for suicide, pain response, and emotion dysregulation. He was awarded the 2015 Rising Star award from the Association for Psychological Science.

"[Anestis] convincingly shows that the rising number of suicides among young people is the direct result of guns in our homes. He powerfully argues that a ban on guns will go a long way to lower the number of suicides in the United States . . . Guns and Suicide is a well-researched and well-argued book. It provides new perspectives on the question of gun rights in America." --The Washington Book Review

"Written by one of the rising stars of suicide prevention, Guns and Suicide is a penetrating and scholarly examination of some of the thorniest issues in contemporary American life. Dr. Anestis is truly one of the leading experts today on the interface between firearms and suicide and this superb and thorough exploration is an extraordinary contribution to the field. While many of us have passionate views about guns, suicide, and American culture, there is not a more thoughtful, balanced, and compelling examination of these topics-this is now the definitive source." --David A. Jobes, Ph.D., ABPP, Professor of Psychology and Director of the Suicide Prevention Laboratory, The Catholic University

"Suicides have risen steadily for more than a decade in the United States, especially among subgroups like middle aged men and military Veterans. Few Americans are aware, however, that over half of these suicides involved self-inflicted gunshot wounds. The public is even less aware of the fact that over two-thirds of gun-related deaths are due to suicide, not homicide or accidents. In his book, Dr. Anestis effectively demonstrates the intimate connection between guns and suicide, and lays out a simple argument: if we want to prevent gun-related deaths, then we need to be talking about suicide, and if we want to prevent suicide, then we need to be talking about guns. If we are going to save lives, public discourse surrounding guns must change. Dr. Anestis' book will help catalyze that change." --Craig J. Bryan, PsyD, ABPP, Executive Director, National Center for Veterans Studies