Suicide and firearm prevalence

Author: Birckmayer, J / Hemenway, D.
Publication: Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior
Topics: Homicide Local Mental Health
Keywords: COUNSELING Firearms Missouri survivors
Bibliographic information +

The authors examined the longitudinal course of PTSD after a courthouse mass shooting in St Louis, Missouri, on the short- and long-terms (6-8 weeks, and 1-3 years later), using survey data from the courthouse employees and other individuals directly involved in the event. Of 80 individuals that were examined 608 weeks post-incident, 77 were reassessed long-term. The authors found that 5% had PTSD, but that distress was part of life for the vast majority of respondents.