Faced with two of the US’ most-deadly mass shootings, President Donald Trump has refused to accept that America has a gun problem. Instead, he has attributed the attacks to mental health issues suffered by the gunmen.
Gun deaths per 100,000 people in Trump’s homeland are more than nine times the European average.
So – is this higher death rate down to mental health issues? Does the US have more mentally-ill people than Europe?
WHO estimates indicate mental health problems are higher in the US, with 6.1 people per 100,000 suffering from anxiety or depressive disorders. That compares with the average for selected European countries of 4.8 people.
Overall, there is estimated to be more people suffering depressive or anxiety disorders in the US than Europe.
But while mental health disorder levels are higher stateside they are nowhere near nine times higher, as with gun-related deaths.