(Pierre, SD) — New data from the South Dakota Department of Health says suicides involving a gun are up. The gun usage rate in suicides rose to 59 percent last year for a total of 116 deaths. It’s the highest total in recent years. Sioux Falls Police Chief John Thum says the increase is from a variety of issues like mental health problems and gun access. Data from RAND Corporation says more than half of South Dakota adults live in a household with a firearm.
