Mental health policies alone do not solve gun violence. The statistical impact is mainly limited to reductions in gun suicide rather than overall gun crime or homicide[1][2].
Studies find only a small fraction of gun violence is attributable to serious mental illness, so targeting mental health tends to have minimal direct effect on shootings or mass violence[1][2][3].
In summary, mental health interventions are vital for suicide prevention and trauma care, but are not a stand-alone solution for U.S. gun violence. Multifaceted, evidence-driven policies are required to impact gun homicide and mass shooting rates—beyond what mental health policy alone can achieve[1][2][3].
Sources [1] Mental illness and reduction of gun violence and suicide https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4211925/ [2] The Link Between Mental Illness and Firearm Violence https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5784421/ [3] Dr. Archie Bleyer: The Fallacy of Blaming Gun Violence on Mental ... https://everytownresearch.org/dr-archie-bleyer-the-fallacy-of-blaming-gun-violence-on-mental-health/ [4] A Call to ARMS (Assess and Reduce Means to Suicide) | OJIN https://ojin.nursingworld.org/table-of-contents/volume-28-2023/number-3-september-2023/firearm-safety-and-mental-health-assess-and-reduce-means-to-suicide/ [5] Social Work and Mental Health: Addressing Gun Violence Trauma https://onlinesocialwork.vcu.edu/blog/social-work-and-mental-health/ [6] Frequent Exposure to Gun Violence Is Associated with Depression ... https://sph.rutgers.edu/news/frequent-exposure-gun-violence-associated-depression-suicide-and-mental-health [7] The Public Health Approach to Prevent Gun Violence https://publichealth.jhu.edu/center-for-gun-violence-solutions/research-reports/the-public-health-approach-to-prevent-gun-violence [8] Gun Deaths, Violence and Mental Health https://mhanational.org/resources/gun-deaths-violence-and-mental-health/ [9] The Impact of Gun Violence on Children and Adolescents - KFF https://www.kff.org/mental-health/the-impact-of-gun-violence-on-children-and-adolescents/ [10] Impacts of Firearm Violence - BHSOAC https://mhsoac.ca.gov/initiatives/impacts-of-firearm-violence/