Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome

Running head: MENTAL HEALTH AND GUN CONTROL IN AMERICA 1
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MENTAL HEALTH AND GUN CONTROL IN AMERICA 1
ABSTRACT
Incidents of mass violence have continually brought mental illness and gun violence into
the national and international debate. The principal public belief is that serious mental illness is
the chief cause of gun violence in the US, and these individuals have more possibilities of
perpetrating violent crime than becoming a victim of such crime. The standpoint taken in the
thesis is that gun control policies of United States of America have a major influence on the
mental health and leads to increased number of mishaps due to lapse in the emotional state. A
literature review is carried out to support the standpoint taken. The review is divided into three
sections- background of mental health, background of gun violence and post-traumatic stress
syndrome.
TABLE OF CONTENTS

MENTAL HEALTH AND GUN CONTROL IN AMERICA 2
ABSTRACT....................................................................................................................................1
Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION.........................................................................................................3
Overview......................................................................................................................................3
Thesis statement...........................................................................................................................4
Background of mental health.......................................................................................................4
Background of gun violence........................................................................................................6
Post-Traumatic Stress Syndrome.................................................................................................7
Chapter 2: LITERATURE REVIEW..............................................................................................8
Introduction..................................................................................................................................8
Background check.......................................................................................................................9
Mental health and HIPPA..........................................................................................................10
Healthcare providers obligation to disclose...............................................................................11
Reporting about high-risk violent patient in the database.........................................................12
Chapter 3: MATERIAL AND METHODOLOGY.......................................................................13
Overview....................................................................................................................................13
Study area description................................................................................................................13
Figure 1: Summary of mass shooting in the US........................................................................15
Data collection...........................................................................................................................16
Methods of data collection.........................................................................................................16
Analysis of collected data..........................................................................................................17

MENTAL HEALTH AND GUN CONTROL IN AMERICA 3
RECOMMENDATIONS...............................................................................................................20
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................21
Recommendation:......................................................................................................................24
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................26
Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION
Overview
The issue of mass shootings and overall gun violence in the United States of America is
to be addressed on an immediate basis, as opined by a number of scholars in the country. Events
of mass violence have repeatedly brought mental illness and gun violence into the national and

MENTAL HEALTH AND GUN CONTROL IN AMERICA 4
international discussion. The reason behind gun violence has often been linked to mental illness,
a concern that raises challenges in setting up national policies. Media coverage and events
reinforce the belief that people suffering from mental illness are dangerous and violent,
especially when there is access to firearms. The primary public belief is that serious mental
illness is the prime cause of gun violence in the US, and these individuals have more chances of
perpetrating violent crime than becoming a victim of such crime. There is substantial literature to
support this belief.
Thesis statement
This paper will prove that the availability of Guns without adequate measure to safeguard
the purchase, has contributed to the increase of guns death violence and its underlying
connection to mental health and the need for background checks and gun control laws in
America.
The standpoint taken in the thesis is that gun control policies of United States of America
have a major influence on the mental health and leads to increased number of mishaps due to
lapse in the emotional state. The gun control should be enforced as a mitigating measure to stop
such crimes. The present paper draws on evidence to prove the fact that availability of guns
without adequate measure for safeguarding the purchase has been the key reason behind the
increase of gun death violence in America. The underlying connection to mental health and the
requirement for background checks and gun control laws in the country are also included the
paper.
Background of mental health
Barry et al., (2013) highlighted the connection between mental illness and gun violence
citing some real-life examples. The four events of gun violence cited in the paper shared two

MENTAL HEALTH AND GUN CONTROL IN AMERICA 5
common features. Firstly, all the four shooters were suffering from mental illness, and secondly,
all of them used guns with large-capacity magazines. As policymakers strive to consider options
for reducing gun violence, there has to be an understanding of the public attitudes regarding
different violence-prevention proposals, including policies that have a deep impact on the people
suffering from mental illness.
Koplewicz (2013) pointed out that in the wake of multiple tragedies occurring in the US,
the focus of lawmakers has shifted towards the issue of gun control. However, the national is
missing out the opportunity to understand the adverse results of untreated mental illness in
adolescents and children that result in gun violence. Adolescent and mental health need
particular attention as silence on this aspect is a key contributor to violence and pervasive
tragedy overall. Shame and stigma have been connected to mental illness at the primary level.
The lack of innovative treatments further adds to the high prevalence of mental illness in the
country. Schildkraut and Hernandez (2014) in this regard have stated that people have an
inclination to purchase weapons when there are criminal convictions or mental issues. There
have been millions of cases reported of diagnosed mental illness and purchase of weapons.
However, it is not possible practically to check the background of each individual every time and
continue to do so every year after purchase of a firearm. The gun control Acts must expand the
licensing requirements for the prohibition of sales to people who are mentally incompetent.
Appelbaum and Swanson (2010) highlighted that when a person with mental illness
engages in a crime of violence, more precisely that with a firearm, the focus is on the restriction
of gun access and not on legislation for a mental disorder. People who take part in such crime are
often in need of psychiatric treatment but avoid accessing services due to fear. This is of prime
importance since shooting sports is a part of lives of people in the US, and people do not access