‘Most Violence Is Not Caused by Mental Illness’

2022-06-08

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After a series of deadly mass shootings in the United States, the National Rifle Association and some Republican leaders and conservatives are pointing to mental illness.This approach raises a question: How can the mental health system stop gun violence when mental illness is so rarely the cause of it?We revisit a conversation from 2018 with a psychiatrist who is wrestling with that challenge.Guest: Dr. Amy Barnhorst, the vice chairwoman of community psychiatry at the University of California,...

After a series of deadly mass shootings in the United States, the National Rifle Association and some Republican leaders and conservatives are pointing to mental illness.

This approach raises a question: How can the mental health system stop gun violence when mental illness is so rarely the cause of it?

We revisit a conversation from 2018 with a psychiatrist who is wrestling with that challenge.

Guest: Dr. Amy Barnhorst, the vice chairwoman of community psychiatry at the University of California, Davis.

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Background reading:

Many Republicans opposed to more gun control have called instead for investing in mental health programs, increasing funding for law enforcement and bolstering security at schools. Many Democrats say they are missing the point.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

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