Vox interviews Vanderbilt University’s Jonathan Metzl about his research into the relationships — and lack thereof — between gun violence and mental illness. Metzl “argues that mental illness is often a scapegoat that lets policymakers and the public ignore bigger, more complicated contributors to gun violence.”
“Metzl, who reviewed the research on mass shootings and mental illness in a paper for the American Journal of Public Health, points to studies that show people with mental illness are more likely to be victims — not perpetrators — of violence, and that very few violent acts — about 3 to 5 percent — are carried out by the mentally ill,” reports Vox. “And while mental illness can be a contributor to some violent behaviors, other factors — such as substance abuse, poverty, history of violence, and access to guns — are much stronger predictors of violence and shootings.”
Everyone blames mental illness for mass shootings. But what if that’s wrong? (Vox, June 23, 2015)
