UMEM Educational Pearls

Title: Exposure to gun violence is associated with mental health problems

Category: Trauma

Keywords: Gun violence, mental health, suicide (PubMed Search)

Posted: 4/28/2025 by Robert Flint, MD (Updated: 5/30/2025)
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This study looked at exposure to gun violence and found increased use of mental health resources, depression and suicide risk even with a single exposure. Repetitive exposure increased suicide risk as well as mental health service utilization, depression and overall health service utilization. While further work is needed, screening our patients for gun violence exposure could undercover mental health needs.

References

Daniel C. Semenza, Allison E. Bond, Devon Ziminski, Michael D. Anestis,
Frequency, recency, and variety of gun violence exposure: Implications for mental health and suicide among US adults,
Social Science & Medicine,
Volume 366,
2025,
117672,
ISSN 0277-9536,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2025.117672.
(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953625000012