Gun violence on youth mental health and well-being KFF

Gun violence affects many children and adolescents in the United States.​​​​​​In response to increasing gun violence—including school shootings—federal gun policy and awareness of the physical and psychological harms associated with gun violence have increased. However, during Trump’s second administration, some of these policies are being rolled back, including expanded access to mental health and trauma services in schools.

In the past decade, nearly 22,000 young people age 17 and under have died from firearms.¹ For every fire death, there are at least two survivors of fire injuries. Additionally, a growing body of research links gun violence—directly and indirectly—to negative effects on youth mental health and well-being. This suggests that many young people in the United States have experienced gun violence and subsequent mental health effects. Although the number affected cannot be determined due to data limitations, the KFF survey findings provide insight into the extent of youth exposure to guns and gun violence in the United States, for example, 20% of parents reported that they changed or considered changing their child’s school to protect them from gun violence; And 44% of parents have a gun in the home and most of these parents have at least one gun that is not securely stored (Figure 1).

Figure 1

This summary highlights the different ways in which gun violence occurs in youth, the differences among youth, and how exposure is associated with negative effects on mental health and well-being.

What is known about non-lethal firearm injuries among children and adolescents?

The number of non-fatal fire injuries exceeds the number of fire deaths among children and adolescents. However, estimates vary, with research suggesting that non-fatal fire injuries occur two to four times more often than fire fatalities. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, non-fatal firearm injuries among children and adolescents have increased. Most youth non-fatal firearm injuries are the result of assaults.

Many children and adolescents are exposed to gun violence, even if they are not directly injured. Data on gun violence among youth are generally limited. However, the KFF analysis found that 51 out of every 100,000 US school-aged children will experience a school shooting between 2020-2024. Additionally, a CDC analysis found that in 34% of unintentional firearm deaths of children and adults, at least one other child was present during the incident. Previous data from the National Survey of Children’s Exposure to Violence found that 8% of children and adolescents had been exposed to gunfire in their lifetime, with a higher share (13%) reported among adults (ages 14-17). In addition, 17% of adults in the United States reported being injured by a gun, according to a KFF poll.

Black children and adolescents are more likely to experience firearm injuries and exposure than their white peers. Black and male children and adolescents are more likely than their peers to experience nonfatal gunshot injuries — a disparity that has grown despite the epidemic. In general, children of color are more often exposed to gun violence than their white peers. Children who live in areas with high concentrations of poverty are more likely to experience firearm-related deaths, and poverty disproportionately affects children of color.

How does gun violence affect the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents?

Gun violence can negatively impact the mental health and well-being of children and adults. Exposure to gun violence has been linked to post-traumatic stress disorder and anxiety, in addition to mental health concerns among youth. Gun violence may cause challenges with school performance, including increased absenteeism and difficulty concentrating. In response to indirect gun violence, such as witnessing a shooting or hearing a gunshot, many children and adolescents experience feelings of sadness, anxiety, or fear. Children and adolescents are exposed to gun violence in a variety of ways, as outlined below.

• Neighborhood and social violence. Many children and adolescents experience violence in their communities. Firearms occurring in the youth community are associated with anxiety and depression among young people, especially women. Other analyzes have similarly found associations between neighborhood gun homicide incidents and poor mental health outcomes among youth.
• suicide Suicide is the second leading cause of death among young people and most suicides are related to firearms. Research has found that access to firearms, especially in the home, is a risk factor for suicide deaths among children and adults. Nearly half of all suicide attempts occur within 10 minutes of current suicidal thoughts, further emphasizing access to firearms as a risk factor for suicide.
• Domestic or intimate partner violence. Women and children are often the victims of intimate partner violence, which may include arson. The presence of a firearm in the home is associated with an increase in intimate partner violence for homicide. Even when firearms are not used, they may be a means of intimidation and intimidation for victims of domestic violence.
• Mass shooting. Although mass shootings, including school shootings, account for a small portion of firearm-related deaths, they can negatively impact the mental health of children and communities at large. Adolescent antidepressant use and suicide risk may increase in communities exposed to school shootings. Survey data showed that most teenagers and their parents feel at least a little worried that a school shooting might happen at their school. School shootings are on the rise, with the US average annual rate of student victims of school shootings tripling over time (from 19 per 100,000 students in 1999-2004 to 51 in 2020-2024, Figure 2). In response to school shootings, almost all schools conduct active shooter drills, which may have a negative psychological impact on participants. Although research is limited on how mass shootings affect individuals not directly exposed to them, current literature suggests that information and knowledge about mass shootings may be associated with increased fear and anxiety.

young people survived Fire injuries are at risk mental health and Substance use issuesIn addition to chronic physical health conditions. An analysis of commercially insured children and youth found that in the year following a fire, survivors were significantly more likely than their peers to experience mental and substance use disorders. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders was more pronounced among youth with more severe firearm injuries than among youth with less severe firearm injuries. Youth survivors of gunshot wounds are more likely than their non-injured peers to seek mental health services after injury. However, a study of youth survivors on Medicaid found that more than three out of five survivors did not receive mental health services in the first six months after injury.

Can negatively affect mental health expansion Family members and victims of youth gun violence the children Parents with fire. Fathers, especially mothers, of young survivors of gunshot injuries had an increase in psychiatric and mental health visits in the year after the shooting incident, based on an analysis of commercial insurance individuals. This increase in psychiatric disorders and mental health visits was most pronounced among families of youth fire victims.