Approximately 37% of the U.S. population and 42% of veterans own a firearm. With recent mass shootings at schools and workplaces, important questions have been raised about how to curb these seemingly senseless shootings. In contrast to beliefs that persons with SMI play a significant role in gun violence, individuals with SMI account for less than 5% of all violence in the United States and only very small proportion of violence committed with a firearm. Persons with SMI are more likely to commit suicide with a gun as opposed to committing a homicide. This presentation will review the relevant literature on firearms and mental illness as well as how to appropriately screen persons with SMI for a potential firearm-related risk of harm to them self or someone else. Important elements of care related to gun risk assessments in persons with SMI are highlighted. Specific information is provided about risk-based gun removal laws and in requests by patients to have their right to have firearms returned once removed.
Format
Recorded webinar, non-interactive, self-paced distance learning activity with post-test.
This presentation was recorded on May 13, 2021.
Learning Objectives
- Identify risks of firearm violence attributable to individuals with SMI.
- Describe assessment of firearm suicide and violence risks for individuals with SMI.
- Discuss risk-based gun removal laws and restoration of firearms rights related to individuals with SMI.
Outline
- Review of literature and studies on firearms and mental illness
- Overview of practitioner’s standard of care
- Overview of violence and suicide risk assessment
- Overview of risk-based gun removal laws and restoration rights related to individuals with SMI
- Presenter Q&A
Target Audience
Counselor, Nurse/Nurse Practitioner, Peer Specialist/Peer Support,
Physician (Non-psychiatrist), Physician Assistant, Psychiatrist,
Psychologist, Social Worker
Instructional Level
Intermediate
Estimate Time to Complete
Estimated Duration: 1.0 hour
Program Start Date: May 17, 2021
Program End Date: July 8, 2023
If there are any topics covered in this
webinar that you would like to discuss with colleagues in the mental health
field, post a question or comment on SMI Adviser’s Webinar Roundtable Topics
discussion board (https://smiadviser.org/discussion).
This is an easy way to network and share ideas with other clinicians who
participate in this webinar.
How to Earn Credit
Participants who wish to earn AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™, CE credit for psychologists, CE credit for social workers, nursing continuing professional development contact hours (NCPD, formerly CNE), or a certificate of participation may do so by completing all sections of the course, including viewing the full video and submitting an evaluation. A multiple-choice quiz is provided based on the content. A passing score of 75% must be achieved. After evaluating the program, course participants will be provided with an opportunity to claim hours of participation and print an official CME certificate (physicians), CE certificate (psychologists), CE certificate (social workers), NCPD (nurses), or certificate of participation (other disciplines) showing the completion date and hours/credits earned.
Continuing Education Credit
Physicians
The American Psychiatric Association (APA) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The APA designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Psychologists
The American Psychiatric Association is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. American Psychiatric Association maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Nurses/Nurse Practitioners
The American Psychiatric Nurses Association is accredited with distinction as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.
Social Workers
American Psychiatric Association, provider #1743, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. American Psychiatric Association maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 05/18/2020-05/18/2021 and 05/18/2021-05/18/2024. Social workers completing this course receive 1.0 (clinical) continuing education credits.
Faculty and Planner Disclosures
All financial relationships relevant to this activity have been mitigated.
Instructors
- Debra A. Pinals, MD serves as the director of the Program in Psychiatry,
Law, and Ethics and as a clinical professor of psychiatry at the
University of Michigan Medical School. She is a clinical adjunct
professor at the University of Michigan Law School. She also is the
medical director of behavioral health and forensic programs for the
Michigan Department of Health and Human Services. She is board certified
in psychiatry and forensic psychiatry, and is a board certified in
addiction medicine. From 2008 to 2016, she was the assistant
commissioner of forensic services, and between 2012 and 2014, she was
the interim state medical director for the Massachusetts Department of
Mental Health. During her career she has been a clinical psychiatrist in
community mental health, inpatient settings, forensic and correctional
facilities, emergency rooms, and court clinics. Dr. Pinals reports no
financial relationships with commercial interests.
- Charles Scott, MD is Chief, Division of Psychiatry and the Law, Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship Training Director, and Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at the University of California, Davis Medical Center in Sacramento, California. He is Board Certified in General Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and has Added Qualifications in Forensic Psychiatry and Addiction Psychiatry. Dr. Scott is a Past-President of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law (AAPL) and is also Past-President of the Association of Directors of Forensic Psychiatry Fellowships. He lectures nationally on the topics of malingering, violence risk assessment, juvenile violence, substance use and violence, the assessment of sex offenders, correctional psychiatry, DSM-5 and the law, and malpractice issues in mental health. Dr. Scott reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.
Please note: Dr. Charles Scott did not present during the live broadcast due to an unforeseen conflict. Dr. Scott's presentation was delivered by Dr. Debra Pinals.
Planners
- Teri Brister, PhD, LPC, National Alliance on Mental Illness. Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.
- Stacy Coyle, PsyD, The Ross Center. Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.
- Tristan Gorrindo, MD, American Psychiatric Association. Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.
- Sherin Khan, LCSW, Thresholds. Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.
- Donna Rolin, PhD, APRN, University of Texas at Austin. Reports no financial relationships with commercial interests.
Accessibility for Participants with Disabilities
The American Psychiatric Association is committed to ensuring accessibility of its website to people with disabilities. If you have trouble accessing any of APA’s online resources, please contact us at 202-559-3900 for assistance.
Technical Requirements
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- Internet Explorer 11+
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Optimal System Configuration:
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For assistance: Contact educme@psych.org for questions about this activity | Contact SMIadviserhelp@psych.org for technical assistance