Relationship Between Mental Health and Gun Violence

 Crisis driven policies that reflect popular sentiment may prove ineffective if not grounded in evidence-based practice. In the wake of fatal shootings such as those in Newtown (CT) and at Virginia Tech, legislative debates have focused on efforts to identify persons with diagnosed mental illnesses and to restrict access to guns for members of this group. These actions presuppose an association between mental disorder and violence. Before you begin this essay, be sure to: View the following video: CSG Justice Center. (2013, April 18). What is the relationship between mental health and violence? (Links to an external site.) [Video file][52 min 25 sec] Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2td8-r–sU Write an essay of about 300-500 words in Word format. Use the American Psychological Association (APA) style (6th edition) for writing your assignment. Cite specific statements from the referenced material and statistics from the video to support your conclusions. The essay should answer the following questions: To what extent will such legislative initiatives resolve the issue of fatal gun violence? Are persons with mental disorders more likely than persons without mental disorders to engage in violent behavior? In what ways, if any, does alcohol use or drug use impact rates of engagement in violent behavior?