Firearm Access Screening in Mental Healthcare: An Exploratory Study of the Role of Provider and Client...

This study examined how mental healthcare providers' characteristics (e.g., firearm ownership) impact whether they screen for firearm access, and differences in reported screening frequency across clients' clinical presentations and demographics.

The sample included 311 mental healthcare providers (data collected 2023-2024). Providers indicated whether they screen for firearm access in their practice (yes/no), and those who responded yes (n = 227) then rated how often they screen clients with a variety of characteristics from 1 (Never) to 5 (All the Time).

Providers who own firearms (n = 53) were more likely to report firearm access screening in their current practice, yet they also endorsed greater perceived barriers to screening (e.g., beliefs that screening would not reduce injury/death) than non-firearm owning providers. Providers who reported screening more often did so based on a client's reported suicidal behaviors/attempts compared to ideation; providers were also more likely to screen males than females. No differences were reported between clients who experience homicidal thoughts and behaviors/attempts or across age and racial/ethnic identity.

Overall, mental healthcare providers more frequently screen males and those with suicidal behaviors/attempts for firearm access. Firearm-owning providers endorsed higher perceived barriers despite screening more frequently, highlighting the complexity of factors influencing screening practices. The demographics of firearm owners are changing, and there is an increased risk of firearm-related violence for the household when a firearm is in the home. Further training and resources for mental healthcare providers are needed to broaden firearm access screening beyond specific contexts.