3 Reasons Why Guns Are A Health Problem — And 3 Things We Can Do About It

1. Guns and Mental Health are a Dangerous Combo, Just Not the Way You Think
Mass shootings lead to media narratives and political rhetoric about stopping “crazy evil monsters” from accessing guns, which increases stigma and makes inaccessible treatment even less utilized. Furthermore, we completely miss the real danger guns pose to mental illness: the increased risk of suicide. In America, over 60 percent of gun deaths are due to suicide, and over half of all suicides are done with a firearm, meaning we need to not only strengthen mental health systems, but we must also limit access to guns if we are going to save lives. It is untrue, cruel, and cynical to say people who want to kill themselves are going to do it regardless of whether they can access a gun or not. For people who have attempted suicide and survived, 90 percent do not go on to kill themselves later. I have cared for a few patients who either attempted or survived suicide. Their struggle and their mental health providers need more than just resources and funding — they need their fellow Americans to get real about guns.