Mental illness and reduction of gun violence and suicide: bringing epidemiologic research to policy

 

Re-written summaries by: Anuva Gajjar

Date Published: 6/14/2021

Original research links:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24861430/

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Introduction:

The study "Mental illness and reduction of gun violence and suicide: bringing epidemiologic research to policy" by Swanson et al. aims to examine the relationship between mental illness and gun violence and suicide, with the goal of informing policy decisions related to these issues. The authors note that there is a common perception that individuals with mental illness are more likely to commit acts of violence, including suicide, and that this perception has led to policy proposals that focus on identifying and treating individuals with mental illness as a means of reducing gun violence and suicide. However, the authors argue that this perception is not supported by the available evidence and that a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between mental illness and gun violence and suicide is needed to inform policy decisions.

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Methods:

The authors conducted a systematic review of the literature to examine the evidence for a relationship between mental illness and gun violence and suicide. They searched multiple databases such as PubMed, PsycINFO, and CINAHL, and included studies that were published in English and had a sample size of at least 30 participants. The authors also examined the policies and laws that have been proposed or implemented in the United States in response to concerns about the relationship between mental illness and gun violence and suicide. The authors used the PICO (population, intervention, comparator and outcome) method to identify relevant studies, which allowed them to identify studies that met the inclusion criteria.

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Results:

The authors found that the majority of individuals who commit acts of gun violence do not have a diagnosed mental illness. They report that less than 5% of the 120,000 gun-related killings in the United States between 2001 and 2010 were committed by people diagnosed with mental illness. They also found that individuals with mental illness are more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators. The authors note that while there is a relationship between mental illness and suicide, it is complex and not well understood. They also found that policies and laws that focus on identifying and treating individuals with mental illness as a means of reducing gun violence and suicide are unlikely to be effective, and may even be harmful. They argue that such policies may lead to stigmatization of individuals with mental illness and discourage them from seeking help.

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Conclusion:

Overall, the study by Swanson et al. provides an overview of the evidence for a relationship between mental illness and gun violence and suicide. The authors found that the majority of individuals who commit acts of gun violence do not have a diagnosed mental illness, and that individuals with mental illness are more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators. They also found that policies and laws that focus on identifying and treating individuals with mental illness as a means of reducing gun violence and suicide are unlikely to be effective and may even be harmful. The authors recommend that policy decisions related to gun violence and suicide should be informed by a more nuanced understanding of the relationship between mental illness and these issues, and should focus on evidence-based strategies such as background checks and limiting access to firearms for individuals who are at high risk for violence. They also recommend that policies should also focus on addressing other risk factors for gun violence, such as poverty, unemployment, and access to firearms.

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