The solution to youth gun violence requires curbing access to firearms and providing mental illness treatment when needed, a recent scientific study reports.
“Viewing gun violence prevention primarily
through the lens of mental health is inadequate”
“Gun violence in American schools and communities has and continues to be a serious public health concern. Each year, nearly 3,000 youth are killed and approximately 16,000 are injured by guns,” according to the report published in November on the Public Library of Science web site.
The solution requires closing background check loopholes, reducing civilian access to high-capacity weapons and normalizing safe gun storage practices, the report adds.
“Additionally, current research confirms that stricter gun control efforts are effective in curbing gun violence and substantially reducing the number of firearm-related injuries and deaths,” the report states.
It is politically difficult and complex to regulate gun control legislation. On the other hand, the mental health “angle” seems to be the easier pathway for clinicians, researchers and educators who want to prevent gun violence, according to the report.
The study was authored by Kelly V. Ruggles of New York University and Sonali Rejan of Columbia University.
“Viewing gun violence prevention primarily through the lens of mental health is inadequate in providing us with a complete understanding of the factors that are associated with gun violence among youth,” the study says.
The author’s list of six behavioral clusters that contribute to youth gun violence are:
Physical activity and nutrition
Disordered eating, suicide and sexual violence
Weapon carrying and physical safety
Alcohol, marijuana and cigarette use
Drug use on school property
Overall drug use
This study found 40 patterns between gun violence and youth. Behavioral factors consistently linked include heroin use, having been injured in a fight (bullying) and or having been a sexual victim.