Experiencing significant trauma due to being the victim or a first responder to a mass shooting leads to serious mental health disorders including PTSD, anxiety, and survivor's guilt. However, the effect of such an event extends beyond those directly affected. Researchers explore how mass shootings spark anxiety and fear, and can have negative implications on mental health for those who are not directly associated with the event.
Injuries and deaths that occur as a result of gun violence result in a major economic burden for healthcare facilities and society overall, researchers say.
In the wake of the school shooting in Uvalde, psychologists report on the best way to address such tragedies to young children and explore how to help teachers and those directly affected by the events.
Despite widespread propaganda, people with mental illnesses only commit 3-4% of all violent acts within the U.S in any given year. Mental health conditions are more strongly associated with suicide, not homicide. Restricting access to guns for those with mental health issues does not take into account those who already own guns and develop mental health conditions over their lifetime. Researchers say, given the climate of blame, people with severe mental health disorders may be dissuaded from seeking treatment.
"Routinely blaming mass shootings on mental illness is unfounded and stigmatizing. Research has shown that only a very small percentage of violent acts are committed by people who are diagnosed with, or in treatment for, mental illness."
A significant link has been identified between the concentration of federally licensed firearm dealers in urban areas and intimate partner homicides in the home.
According to researchers, there is little evidence to suggest violence in PG-13 movies is related to real world violence or an increase in violent behavior.
Researchers report on the social and psychological consequences exposure to mass shootings have on survivors, first responders and the community as a whole.
Researchers report people should look more deeply into the environmental factors and mental health issues surrounding those involved in school shootings, and not simply blame peer rejection.
A study that utilizes 10 years of data on intimate partner homicide reveals men who have a history of domestic violence and access to guns have an increased risk of committing murder-suicide. Restricting gun access to men with a history of domestic battery could reduce murder suicide rates, researchers report.
Researchers comment on the perceived link between violence and video games. They conclude claims that there is consistent scientific evidence that video gaming encourages violence, are false.
Researchers use an epidemiological approach to assess the probability of an individual becoming a victim of gun violence.