Harm Reduction for Veterans (and Others) Who Carry Guns and Experience Anger Attacks

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Harm Reduction for Veterans (and Others) Who Carry Guns and Experience Anger Attacks

Category: Behavior, Firearm Availability, Suicide|Journal: American Journal of Public Health (full text)|Author: I Katz|Year: 2021

In their article “Mental Disorders, Gun Ownership, and Gun Carrying Among Soldiers After Leaving the Army, 2016–2019,” Bossarte et al. (p. 1855) report that there is no overall association between mental illness and firearm availability. However, the findings suggest that there may be decreased firearm ownership among veterans with generalized anxiety disorder and increased carrying among those with intermittent explosive disorder (IED), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and panic disorder. They suggest that a harm-reduction strategy that includes screening for gun-carrying behaviors and intervening to reduce access to firearms at times of increased distress may be helpful for veterans with these conditions. A look at the conclusions in the context of other recent findings points to a broader issue that, given the nation’s concerns about gun-related violence and suicide, should be considered urgent.
 

 

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