The Rising Impact of Gun Violence on Youth Mental Health

Gun violence is a significant public health crisis in the United States, with profound consequences for the mental health and well-being of children, and adolescents. While federal firearm policies and awareness of the harm associated with gun violence have increased in recent years, some policies are being rolled back, potentially impacting access to vital mental health and trauma services for young people.

The Scope of the Problem

Over the past decade, nearly 22,000 youth ages 17 and younger have died by firearm [1]. For every firearm fatality, at least two survivors experience firearm injuries. Research increasingly links exposure to gun violence – both direct and indirect – to adverse mental health outcomes in youth. While quantifying the exact number of youths impacted remains challenging due to data limitations, surveys offer insight into the extent of exposure. For example, 20% of parents have changed or considered changing their child’s school due to concerns about gun violence, and 44% of parents have a gun in the home, with many lacking safe storage practices [1].

Forms of Gun Violence Exposure

Children and adolescents are exposed to gun violence in various ways:

• Nonfatal Firearm Injuries: The number of nonfatal firearm injuries exceeds the number of fatalities among this age group. These injuries increased after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with assaults being the primary cause [1].
• Neighborhood and Community Violence: Exposure to firearm homicides in a community is linked to anxiety and depression, particularly among female adolescents [1].
• Suicide: Firearms are frequently involved in youth suicides, and access to firearms, especially in the home, is a significant risk factor. Nearly half of suicide attempts occur within 10 minutes of the initial thought, highlighting the danger of effortless access [1].
• Domestic or Intimate Partner Violence: The presence of firearms in the home escalates the risk of intimate partner violence and homicide.
• Mass Shootings: While representing a smaller proportion of firearm deaths, mass shootings, including school shootings, negatively impact the mental health of children and communities. School shootings are on the rise, with a threefold increase in the average yearly rate of student exposure from 1999-2004 to 2020-2024 [1].

Disparities in Exposure

Black children and adolescents are disproportionately affected by firearm injuries and exposure compared to their White peers [1]. Black and male youth are more likely to experience nonfatal firearm injuries, and children of color are more often exposed to gun violence overall. Poverty also plays a role, as children living in high-poverty areas are at greater risk of firearm-related deaths.

Mental Health Consequences

Exposure to gun violence can lead to a range of mental health challenges in children and adolescents, including:

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Challenges with school performance, such as increased absenteeism and difficulty concentrating
• Increased risk of substance use

Youth survivors of firearm injuries are at increased risk of mental health and substance use issues, as well as chronic physical health conditions [1]. Family members of youth gun violence victims also experience increased psychiatric disorders and mental health visits.

The Necessitate for Support

While youth gunshot survivors are more likely to utilize mental health services following their injury, a significant proportion – over three out of five – do not receive such care within the first six months [1]. This highlights the critical need for increased access to mental health support for young people affected by gun violence.

Addressing the mental health consequences of gun violence requires a comprehensive approach that includes prevention efforts, increased access to mental health services, and support for families and communities impacted by this crisis.