Grounded in Faith: Resources on Mental Health and Gun Violence

WASHINGTON, DC: April 15, 2013 –The Interfaith Disability Advocacy Coalition (IDAC), a program of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), is proud to release Grounded in Faith: Resources on Mental Health and Gun Violence; available online at http://www.aapd.com/assets/grounded-in-faith.pdf

“Grounded in Faith: Resources on Mental Health and Gun Violence” is a compendium of resources to be used by congregational leaders, disability advocates and other concerned persons who wish to ensure that the ongoing debate on gun control does not do great harm by stigmatizing people with mental illness or depriving them of their rights and freedoms. Immediately following this introduction are two sections prepared by the Interfaith Disability Advocacy Coalition (IDAC)—Section Two: Statistics and Perspectives on Mental Health and Gun Violence and Section Three: Positions and Policies of IDAC Members and Others on Mental Health Issues. The six appendices highlight the perspectives of experts and organizations in the field as well as summaries of legislative proposals and current state and federal laws.

The relationship of current discussions about mental illness and gun violence is of great concern to IDAC, which prepared this report. IDAC is a nonpartisan advocacy coalition of 32 national faith-based organizations, including representatives from the Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and Sikh traditions, whose core spiritual values affirm the rights and dignity of people with disabilities.

The compendium is a resource for congregational leaders, disability advocates, and other concerned persons who wish to ensure that the on-going debate around gun violence prevention does not stigmatize people with mental illnesses, and deprive them of their rights and freedoms.