New Study on Gen Z Views on Mental Health and Guns Highlights Gen Z’s Alarming Experience with Gun Violence and Mental Health Issues and Willingness to Think Independently on Future Gun Ownership
Among the 30% of Young People Who’ve Experienced Gun Violence, 55% Reported Feeling Worried about Their Mental Health – 16 Points Higher than their Peers without Gun Violence Experience
CHICAGO – Today the gun violence prevention group Project Unloaded, which focuses on Gen Z and narrative change, unveiled new research into Gen Z’s knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors around guns and gun violence in the context of their mental health. The research report, called Triggering, summarizes research conducted by C+R Research through rounds of both qualitative and quantitative study completed in September 2024. The findings highlight the opportunity to reach young people with positive, fact-based messaging addressing the risks of gun use, particularly the risk of self-harm. Additionally, it offers new insights into young people’s experiences with gun violence and mental health, particularly related to gender, urbanicity, and race.
“We know that young people today are more willing to talk about how they’re feeling than past generations,” said Nina Vinik, founder and president of Project Unloaded. “We also know that gun violence is impacting members of Gen Z in unprecedented ways. With this research, we sought to understand the points of intersection in these topics, with the goals of raising awareness about the risks of firearm use, increasing young people’s willingness to seek help when they need it, and reducing the risk of firearm suicide. In the end, we found good news: No matter their politics, a broad group of young people understand the importance of talking to their peers about the risks of gun use, especially as it relates to their mental health. ”
Key findings include:
- Mental health is top of mind for members of Gen Z, especially for young people who have experienced gun violence.
- 45% of Gen Z said they were concerned about their mental health. However, less than a third are getting help for a mental health condition.
- Among the 30% of young people who’ve experienced gun violence, 55% reported feeling worried about their mental health, compared to 39% of members of Gen Z without such experiences.
- While many members of Gen Z have experience with gun ownership, 40% are undecided about owning a gun in the future.
- 45% of young people live in homes with firearms.
- 1 in 5 members of Gen Z personally own a firearm. Of non-gun owners, 57% say they are unsure or only somewhat likely/unlikely to own a gun. This group makes up 40% of the overall Gen Z population.
- Black members of Gen Z have more experience with gun violence, but in urban areas, fewer are receiving mental health help or treatment.
- Just 19% of Black Gen Z members in cities said they were receiving mental health treatment, compared to 31% of Gen Z overall.
- Black and Hispanic members of Gen Z are less likely to live in homes with guns – 40% compared to 45% of the overall sample – but those guns are less likely to be stored securely. 35% of Black and Hispanic respondents say that all of the guns in their home are stored loaded (compared to 22% of overall Gen Z respondents with guns at home), while 30% say all guns are stored unlocked (vs 21% overall).
- More than one-third (37%) of surveyed Gen Z women and girls say they’re likely to get a gun in the future.
- In general, female respondents said they were far less comfortable with guns than male respondents (36% vs 61%).
- Gen Z is split politically – and uncertainty about gun ownership reaches across party lines.
- 30% of respondents identified as conservative, 27% as liberal, and 40% as independent.
- Gen Z members undecided about gun ownership reflected a similar breakdown: 26% identify as conservative, 29% liberal, and 43% independent.
“My generation understands that mental health is a critical part of our overall well-being,” said Sophie Szew, a member of Project Unloaded’s Working Group on Teen Mental Health, Gun Violence and the Risk of Self-Harm, Stanford third-year student and former Project Unloaded Youth Council member. “With this research, Project Unloaded is adding to the conversation around mental health and Gen Z by highlighting an issue that adds to young people’s anxiety every day: Gun violence. By empowering young people with information about the risks that come with getting a gun, we can build a safer future for everyone.”
The full report is available here. In spring 2024, Project Unloaded will unveil a new Gen Z-focused campaign inspired by this research.
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