Rachel Riseberg
Research Mentor: Justin Heinze
Mentor Department: Health Behavior and Health Education, Public Health
Author(s): Justin Heinze, Julia Bell
Session: Session 5 (2:00 PM – 2:50 PM)
Presentation Type: Poster 97
Abstract
Firearm violence is a major public health crisis and is the leading cause of death among young adults and adolescents. It is a critical issue that needs to be studied and understood in order to create strategies, solutions, and systems to help decrease the alarming number of firearm-related violence incidents. As a member of the Public Health IDEAS team focused on preventing firearm injuries, I reviewed many publications and became further educated on this epidemic. I then engaged in a research translation project that aimed to make academic findings more accessible to a broader audience. As part of this work, I conducted an interview with one of the authors of a publication I reviewed. Dr. Kristi Gamarel is the author of “Qualitatively exploring structural and social drivers of firearm violence exposure among LGBTQ+ young adults of color in Detroit.†This study examined the underlying reasons for and contextual factors surrounding firearm violence exposure among LGBTQ+ young adults of color, emphasizing the influential role of structural and societal influences, including racism and community safety. Interview questions focused on methodological challenges, the role of intersectionality, and how everyday experiences of firearm violence differ from highly publicized mass shootings. Insights from this interview provided additional context to the study’s findings and highlighted the importance of addressing structural stigma and social threat in violence prevention strategies. Using both the published article and the interview, I created an infographic designed for a general audience. The infographic distills complex qualitative data into clear, visual summaries emphasizing the significance of everyday and indirect exposure to firearm violence and the need for inclusive, trauma-informed interventions. This project demonstrates the value of combining academic research with public-facing communication to increase awareness and inform more equitable public health approaches to firearm violence prevention.
