Gun Violence and Mental Illness: A Comprehensive Review

Perhaps never before has an objective, evidence-based review of the intersection between gun violence and mental illness been more sorely needed or more timely. As tragic mass shootings continue to capture headlines, it’s essential to address the misconceptions surrounding firearms deaths and mental illness.

The Reality Behind Gun Violence and Mental Illness

The persistent myth that people with mental illness are violent and responsible for much of the gun violence in the United States stigmatizes individuals with mental illness and distracts us from the awareness that approximately 65% of all firearm deaths each year are suicides. This misconception must be addressed through a public health lens, focusing on evidence-based interventions that prioritize individual and collective well-being.

A Practical Guide to Addressing Gun Violence and Mental Illness

Written by a multidisciplinary roster of authors who are leaders in the fields of mental health, public health, and public policy, Gun Violence and Mental Illness offers a reader-friendly, well-structured, and accessible exploration of the complex issues surrounding firearms deaths and mental illness. This apolitical guide reviews:

• The epidemiology of gun violence and its relationship to mental illness, examining what we know about those who perpetrate mass shootings and school shootings.
• The current legal provisions for prohibiting access to firearms for those with mental illness and whether these provisions and new mandated reporting interventions are effective or reinforce negative stereotypes associated with mental illness.
• The challenges in accessing mental health treatment, including diminished treatment resources, barriers to access, and involuntary commitment.
• Novel interventions for addressing these issues from a multilevel and multidisciplinary public health perspective that does not stigmatize people with mental illness, including:
• Suicide risk assessment strategies
• Increasing treatment engagement
• Legal, social, and psychiatric means of restricting access to firearms when people are in crisis
• When appropriate, restoration of firearm rights

Mental health clinicians and trainees will appreciate the risk assessment strategies presented, while mental health, public health, and public policy researchers will find Gun Violence and Mental Illness a thoughtful and thought-provoking volume that eschews sensationalism and embraces serious scholarship.

Book Details

Publisher: American Psychiatric Publishing
Publication Date: November 17, 2015
Language: English
ISBN: 9781585624980, 9781615370634