Episode 98 | Mass Shootings & Mental Health

Are mass shootings caused by mental illness? When a mass shooting occurs in the United States, there is often a debate of if it is a "gun problem" or a "mental health problem". In this episode I dive into the literature on mental illness and mass shootings. I address the misconceptions, as well as what the most recent research has to say. I discuss risk factors for gun violence and mass shootings, as well as the role of trauma in perpetrators of gun violence. Further, I discuss the impact mass shootings have on mental health, as the discussion tends to be unidirectional (e.g., mental illness causes mass shootings) rather than bidirectional (e.g. discussing both the impact of mental illness on mass shootings as well as the impact of mass shootings impact mental health). I discuss future directions and what we can do after a mass shooting occurs to protect our mental health and drive home the point that mass shootings are not caused by one factor alone. It is a multitude of factors that interact with one another and, thus, there is not only one solution. Mentioned In this Episode Talking with Kids About Trauma - Drop in with Dr. J Podcast Episode Episode Resources Ways to Work With Me: Mind Over Matter LGBTQ+ Affirming Masterclass Resources: Anti-Racism Resources LGBTQ+ Affirming Resources The Helping Professional's Guide to Boundary Setting Connect with Me: Follow me on IG @jessicaleighphd Follow the podcast on IG @psych.talk.podcast Follow me on TikTok @jessicaleighphd Join my Facebook community: Grow Through What You Go Through Sponsors & Collaborations: BetterHelp Intro/Outro Music: Life of Riley by Kevin MacLeod Music License Awakening Together, Relaxing into Happiness with William Cooper, M.Th., LPC Experience Awakening....Relaxing into your Being and, therefore, Happiness. William has... Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify Support the show