Psychiatric services : a journal of the American Psychiatric Association
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In response to recent mass shootings, policy makers have proposed multiple policies to prevent persons with serious mental illness from having guns. The political debate about these proposals is often uninformed by research. To address this gap, this review article summarizes the research related to gun restriction policies that focus on serious mental illness. ⋯ Future studies should examine how gun restriction policies for serious mental illness affect suicide, how such policies are implemented by states, how persons with serious mental illness perceive policies that restrict their possession of guns, and how gun restriction policies influence mental health treatment seeking among persons with serious mental illness.
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This study assessed the prevalence of general medical problems, stress or emotional problems, and alcohol problems reported by members of the armed forces of the United Kingdom after deployment in Iraq or Afghanistan. The study also identified types of help seeking and factors associated with help seeking. ⋯ Medical help seeking for stress or emotional problems was uncommon and was related to meeting criteria for two or more mental health problems. Commissioned officers were reluctant to seek medical help for stress or emotional problems. Help seeking for alcohol problems increased if personnel were experiencing additional mental health problems.