Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A September 2020 PMID 32900924

Local exposure to school shootings and youth antidepressant use.

Maya Rossin-Slater, Molly Schnell, Hannes Schwandt, Sam Trejo, Lindsey Uniat

Mentions

170
Peak: 20 in May 2022
across 6 sources since Dec 2019

Extended reach

349,344
potential audience

Total likes

92

Video views

947

Mentions per month

Dec 2019 – Apr 2025

Where it's discussed

  • News108 articles
  • X / Twitter51 posts
  • Blogs5 articles
  • YouTube2 videos
  • Facebook2 posts
  • Reddit2 posts

AI synopsis

What people are saying

The overall tone reflects cautious agreement, with users referencing specific statistics like the 21.4% increase in antidepressant use following exposure, and debating whether the increase is a cause or consequence of school shootings. Words like 'devastating,' 'crazy,' and questions about causality demonstrate both concern and critical engagement, emphasizing the social and policy relevance of the findings.

AgreementModerate agreement

Most comments acknowledge the research findings, with some expressing skepticism about causality or the implications.

InterestModerate interest

Discussions show moderate curiosity, especially around the connection between exposure to shootings and antidepressant use.

EngagementHigh engagement

Many users delve into implications, share additional statistics, and question causality, indicating deep engagement.

ImpactModerate impact

The discussions highlight the potential influence of the study on public debates around mental health, gun control, and trauma, albeit with some skepticism.

Abstract in brief

  • Exposure to school shootings within 0 to 5 miles of a school leads to a 21.4% increase in youth antidepressant prescriptions over the next two years.
  • The study compares nearby areas (0-5 miles) to farther areas (10-15 miles) to see the impact of shootings, controlling for overall trends and differences across locations.
  • The increase in antidepressant use is less pronounced in areas with more mental health providers who prefer behavioral interventions over medication.]

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Abraham Gutman
@abgutman · X

What a devastating first line for an abstract: “In the last two decades, over 240,000 American students were on school grounds when a gunman opened fire at their school.” Talk about collective trauma. https://t.co/JD7U2InhGe

May 25, 2022 · 29 likes · 12 shares · 42,244 followers View post →
Jennifer Doleac
@jenniferdoleac · X

"Local exposure to school shootings and youth antidepressant use" by @maya_rossin, Schnell, Schwandt, & Uniat https://t.co/Whv3eawo5l https://t.co/WEHyxXfTOL

Jun 8, 2022 · 9 likes · 3 shares · 62,315 followers View post →
DB33
@_Orwell1984 · X

@BrittanyEdney @FOX5Atlanta They are going to blame this on guns and there will be cries to have gun control, but 99% of these school shooters are on antidepressants. The number 1 side effect for someone under 21 is violent behavior, suicidal ideation and impulsive behavior. https://t.co/GyAwXWwfjs

Sep 4, 2024 · 7 likes · 183 followers View post →
DB33
@_Orwell1984 · X

@smbruins1 @BrittanyEdney @FOX5Atlanta Thanks to democrats 99% of them are on antidepressants. You are dangerous with your made up BS. Dems have destroyed all morals along with religion, so these kids all get on antidepressants. Side effects are impulsive behavior, depression and violence. https://t.co/GyAwXWwfjs

Sep 4, 2024 · 6 likes · 1 share · 183 followers View post →
Amor y Rabia News
@Amor_y_Rabia · X

AVISO PARA NAVEGANTES: cada vez hay más evidencias de que el uso masivo de medicamentos antidepresivos entre la juventud de EEUU está detrás de las masacres indiscriminadas 1) https://t.co/vFhd8VUqE1 2) https://t.co/zRdcE45EwN 3) https://t.co/Lk7aeaiOrE 4) https://t.co/1pz7GLphry https://t.co/M5Fx54zftb

May 29, 2022 · 4 likes · 3 shares · 5,233 followers View post →
Mighty Mouse
@MightyM55070329 · X

Local exposure to school shootings and youth antidepressant use https://t.co/DNZC0ZOKES

Jun 18, 2022 · 2 likes · 1 share · 6,622 followers View post →

All mentions

Hanna_PSSD
@hanna_pssd · X

This can't be real. People who are locally exposed to school shooting likely caused by antidepressants are given antidepressants "We find that local exposure to fatal school shootings increases youth antidepressant use by 21.4% in the following 2 years" https://t.co/TpdHk4zj2J

Apr 18, 2025 · 1 like · 1,118 followers View post →
J Hinton™
@jhinton_ · X

@WallStreetMav It is true……increases risk by 21.4% - https://t.co/cLGA2808s4

Mar 6, 2025 · 1,186 followers View post →
Svengooli
@Svengooli · X

@no_grave_ https://t.co/s5Z9FL8AFm

Feb 28, 2025 · 57 followers View post →
Svengooli
@Svengooli · X

@no_grave_ I knew "100%" was a lie, but surprised by how few actually were under treatment. Receipts: https://t.co/s5Z9FL8AFm https://t.co/nSOhb5KOdU

Feb 28, 2025 · 57 followers View post →
Jesse Bywater
@JesseBywater1 · X

@vturrisi1 @RealAlexJones This is a way better statistic sinc3 1999 every two years the people on anti depressants have increased by 21.4%. There have been over 240,000 students that have been involved with or come in contact with an active school shooter. That's crazy just saying. https://t.co/UBUwMEOlvt

Jan 30, 2025 · 57 followers View post →
Adon-Rabi Shalomim
@edeniclight · X

Local exposure to school shootings and youth antidepressant use - PMC #HHSconfirmation https://t.co/JQiCLUE1QF

Jan 29, 2025 · 480 followers View post →
Pedro Mingot
@SoyPedroMingot · X

https://t.co/6xLwG4td3F

Jan 15, 2025 · 59 followers View post →
Trump Won
@adorbdeplorb · X

RT @_Orwell1984: Democrats are going to blame this on guns and there will be cries to have gun control, but 99% of these school shooters ar…

Sep 5, 2024 · 1 share · 4,241 followers View post →
Ultra Maga Dee Dee 311
@Lilmsdangrus311 · X

RT @_Orwell1984: @smbruins1 @BrittanyEdney @FOX5Atlanta Thanks to democrats 99% of them are on antidepressants. You are dangerous with your…

Sep 4, 2024 · 1 share · 3,287 followers View post →
DB33
@_Orwell1984 · X

Democrats are going to blame this on guns and there will be cries to have gun control, but 99% of these school shooters are on antidepressants. The number 1 side effect for someone under 21 is violent behavior, suicidal ideation and impulsive behavior. https://t.co/GyAwXWwfjs

Sep 4, 2024 · 1 share · 183 followers View post →
DB33
@_Orwell1984 · X

@smbruins1 @BrittanyEdney @FOX5Atlanta Thanks to democrats 99% of them are on antidepressants. You are dangerous with your made up BS. Dems have destroyed all morals along with religion, so these kids all get on antidepressants. Side effects are impulsive behavior, depression and violence. https://t.co/GyAwXWwfjs

Sep 4, 2024 · 6 likes · 1 share · 183 followers View post →
DB33
@_Orwell1984 · X

@BrittanyEdney @FOX5Atlanta They are going to blame this on guns and there will be cries to have gun control, but 99% of these school shooters are on antidepressants. The number 1 side effect for someone under 21 is violent behavior, suicidal ideation and impulsive behavior. https://t.co/GyAwXWwfjs

Sep 4, 2024 · 7 likes · 183 followers View post →
Prof.dr Nikola Ilanković
@PIlankovic · X

Local exposure to school shootings and youth antidepressant use https://t.co/FkmhlysPTs

May 6, 2024 · 52 followers View post →
Ben Simmons
@Bennybobjimbill · X

@ElSotong @FenixAmmunition Interesting article showing before and after and at different miles from a given event. https://t.co/5oLnkNWqwg

Jan 5, 2024 · 1 like · 2,038 followers View post →
Ben Simmons
@Bennybobjimbill · X

@LankyLopez @MWulk67971 Give me a minute, there’s a list from the national science foundation of before and after within a 3-5 mile radius https://t.co/5oLnkNWqwg

Dec 23, 2023 · 2,038 followers View post →
Moira Hart
@Moira_Hart_ · X

@nytimes Sounds like you dislike truth. Antidepressants: https://t.co/zaIhIZrwcb https://t.co/0kt4ICrijH Vaccines and Autism: https://t.co/v0UtFCL9nZ Vaccines and Autoimmune Diseases: https://t.co/4OGIQzHRnM Hormone Disruptors and Gender: https://t.co/wpQDwKKWXq

Jul 7, 2023 · 12 followers View post →
KASchultz_writer
@kaschultzwriter · X

@StephenKing study cites 2.7% - that 2.7% can net massive tragedy logically includes abrupt cessation of meds which can be impossible to track/control https://t.co/7ggtcOdBxr

May 7, 2023 · 383 followers View post →
AliS
@MagistraLinguae · X

@CarolCLawrence @stillgray There is a connection: students in schools where there has been a shooting take more antidepressants. https://t.co/toH1HcPKxl

Mar 12, 2023 · 34 followers View post →
Ellen Dibble
@EllenDibble · X

(Chicken or egg; now they say antidepressants cause gun violence?): by M Rossin-Slater · Sept. 2020 · Cited by 41 — "We find that local exposure to fatal school shootings increases youth antidepressant use by 21.4% in the following 2 years." https://t.co/z4OAGBjDCW

Jul 30, 2022 · 2,156 followers View post →
Moral Compass
@ASkojec · X

RT @MightyM55070329: Local exposure to school shootings and youth antidepressant use https://t.co/DNZC0ZOKES

Jun 18, 2022 · 1 share · 2,896 followers View post →
Mighty Mouse
@MightyM55070329 · X

Local exposure to school shootings and youth antidepressant use https://t.co/DNZC0ZOKES

Jun 18, 2022 · 2 likes · 1 share · 6,622 followers View post →
Marc A. Levin
@MarcALevin · X

RT @jenniferdoleac: "Local exposure to school shootings and youth antidepressant use" by @maya_rossin, Schnell, Schwandt, & Uniat https://…

Jun 8, 2022 · 3 shares · 12,677 followers View post →
Jeff Hoopes
@JeffLHoopes · X

RT @jenniferdoleac: "Local exposure to school shootings and youth antidepressant use" by @maya_rossin, Schnell, Schwandt, & Uniat https://…

Jun 8, 2022 · 3 shares · 660 followers View post →
Ryan
@ryanbedwards · X

RT @jenniferdoleac: "Local exposure to school shootings and youth antidepressant use" by @maya_rossin, Schnell, Schwandt, & Uniat https://…

Jun 8, 2022 · 3 shares · 6,451 followers View post →
Jennifer Doleac
@jenniferdoleac · X

"Local exposure to school shootings and youth antidepressant use" by @maya_rossin, Schnell, Schwandt, & Uniat https://t.co/Whv3eawo5l https://t.co/WEHyxXfTOL

Jun 8, 2022 · 9 likes · 3 shares · 62,315 followers View post →
Txongoku
@txongoku · X

RT @Amor_y_Rabia: AVISO PARA NAVEGANTES: cada vez hay más evidencias de que el uso masivo de medicamentos antidepresivos entre la juventud…

May 29, 2022 · 3 shares · 379 followers View post →
Pelacanyes #NiOblitNiPerdo
@Pelacanyes_TGN · X

RT @Amor_y_Rabia: AVISO PARA NAVEGANTES: cada vez hay más evidencias de que el uso masivo de medicamentos antidepresivos entre la juventud…

May 29, 2022 · 3 shares · 342 followers View post →
Amor y Rabia News
@Amor_y_Rabia · X

AVISO PARA NAVEGANTES: cada vez hay más evidencias de que el uso masivo de medicamentos antidepresivos entre la juventud de EEUU está detrás de las masacres indiscriminadas 1) https://t.co/vFhd8VUqE1 2) https://t.co/zRdcE45EwN 3) https://t.co/Lk7aeaiOrE 4) https://t.co/1pz7GLphry https://t.co/M5Fx54zftb

May 29, 2022 · 4 likes · 3 shares · 5,233 followers View post →
Kausik
@kausikdatta22 · X

RT @abgutman: A point that @cdcaron makes that shouldn’t be lost in the really critical discourse about collective trauma is that proximity…

May 28, 2022 · 1 share · 1,723 followers View post →
Abraham Gutman
@abgutman · X

A point that @cdcaron makes that shouldn’t be lost in the really critical discourse about collective trauma is that proximity matters. We are all impacted but not all impacted the same. Consider this finding on school shootings & antidepressants. https://t.co/JD7U2InhGe https://t.co/6ybXExPRPx

May 28, 2022 · 1 like · 1 share · 42,244 followers View post →
Bumbling Paladin
@MannuMellow · X

RT @abgutman: What a devastating first line for an abstract: “In the last two decades, over 240,000 American students were on school ground…

May 25, 2022 · 12 shares · 2,232 followers View post →
Dan Vock
@danvock · X

RT @abgutman: What a devastating first line for an abstract: “In the last two decades, over 240,000 American students were on school ground…

May 25, 2022 · 12 shares · 4,501 followers View post →
Blaise
@off2wine · X

RT @abgutman: What a devastating first line for an abstract: “In the last two decades, over 240,000 American students were on school ground…

May 25, 2022 · 12 shares · 438 followers View post →
Tom Avril
@TomAvril1 · X

RT @abgutman: What a devastating first line for an abstract: “In the last two decades, over 240,000 American students were on school ground…

May 25, 2022 · 12 shares · 2,978 followers View post →
Maha
@mahamiou · X

RT @abgutman: What a devastating first line for an abstract: “In the last two decades, over 240,000 American students were on school ground…

May 25, 2022 · 12 shares · 16,615 followers View post →
Joseph Ataman
@JosephAtaman · X

RT @abgutman: What a devastating first line for an abstract: “In the last two decades, over 240,000 American students were on school ground…

May 25, 2022 · 12 shares · 1,078 followers View post →
Anne Barnard
@ABarnardNYC · X

RT @abgutman: What a devastating first line for an abstract: “In the last two decades, over 240,000 American students were on school ground…

May 25, 2022 · 12 shares · 68,194 followers View post →
Rocio Gonzalez
@PielCanela728 · X

RT @abgutman: What a devastating first line for an abstract: “In the last two decades, over 240,000 American students were on school ground…

May 25, 2022 · 12 shares · 1,032 followers View post →
Wiwid
@Wiwidpoerwito · X

RT @abgutman: What a devastating first line for an abstract: “In the last two decades, over 240,000 American students were on school ground…

May 25, 2022 · 12 shares · 831 followers View post →
Ash
@alphacharlie49 · X

RT @abgutman: What a devastating first line for an abstract: “In the last two decades, over 240,000 American students were on school ground…

May 25, 2022 · 12 shares · 1,685 followers View post →
Abraham Gutman
@abgutman · X

What a devastating first line for an abstract: “In the last two decades, over 240,000 American students were on school grounds when a gunman opened fire at their school.” Talk about collective trauma. https://t.co/JD7U2InhGe

May 25, 2022 · 29 likes · 12 shares · 42,244 followers View post →
Mighty Mouse
@MightyM55070329 · X

@SalTheHuman @glowingcanary We find that local exposure to fatal school shootings leads to persistent and significant increases in youth antidepressant use. https://t.co/DNZC0ZOKES

May 24, 2022 · 1 like · 6,622 followers View post →
Mighty Mouse
@MightyM55070329 · X

We find that local exposure to fatal school shootings leads to persistent and significant increases in youth antidepressant use. https://t.co/DNZC0ZOKES

May 24, 2022 · 6,622 followers View post →
The Firm
@DbootyNabber · X

Check it out. The school shooting caused an increase in usage or the increase in usage caused the school shooting? Also notice the last line....... https://t.co/Xxj4RQn5Tv https://t.co/SwxtK2EOPm

May 24, 2022 · 457 followers View post →
yeah I dunno either
@yeaidunnoeither · X

@RyanLedbetter20 @TastyAmberTears @fezcoki1 @nypost Dude how the tf is 37 cherry picked

May 15, 2022 · 46 followers View post →
turizemptuj
@turizemptuj · X

RT @turizemptuj: @horror_jock Xanax must be protected at all costs! Thanks go out to the Charles Koch Foundation for the funds the Poynter…

Apr 22, 2022 · 1 share · 820 followers View post →
turizemptuj
@turizemptuj · X

@horror_jock Xanax must be protected at all costs! Thanks go out to the Charles Koch Foundation for the funds the Poynter Institute need to prove that SSRIs' association with school shootings is all a plot by the Scientologists: https://t.co/KwCPbBwe0O The good news: https://t.co/dP6RP6AlSk

Apr 22, 2022 · 1 like · 1 share · 820 followers View post →
Atle Dyregrov
@Dyregrov · X

Local exposure to school shootings and youth antidepressant use | PNAS https://t.co/V0dTKyEuEN

Sep 23, 2020 · 3,483 followers View post →
Ken Gusler
@kgusler · X

Local exposure to school shootings and youth antidepressant use - https://t.co/NiK1sU2BfS

Sep 9, 2020 · 20,038 followers View post →
Coopmike48 (we/us)
@coopmike48 · X

Education Research Report: Local Exposure to School Shootings and Youth Antidepressant Use - https://t.co/HcRaBhVjMl

Dec 16, 2019 · 7,291 followers View post →
*** NEW RESEARCH ***
@cntrlbnkrsrch · X

Local Exposure to School Shootings and Youth Antidepressant Use -- by Maya Rossin-Slater, Molly Schnell, Hannes Schwandt, Sam Trejo, Lindsey Uniat https://t.co/vIPf8oogIc

Dec 16, 2019 · 699 followers View post →