United States President Donald Trump says America should build more mental institutions, in addition to implementing "meaningful" gun background checks, to combat the prevalence of mass shootings in the country.

Key points: Mr Trump is the latest US President called to implement stronger gun law reform

Mr Trump is the latest US President called to implement stronger gun law reform He says America needs more mental institutions because "we can't let these people be on the streets"

He says America needs more mental institutions because "we can't let these people be on the streets" Critics of institutions have pointed to prison-like conditions and arbitrary reasons for institutionalisation

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, he claimed those involved in recent mass shootings in Ohio and Texas were mentally ill, and said he and fellow Republicans had discussed America's recurring problems with gun violence.

He added his party does not "want to have insane people, dangerous people, really bad people having guns".

"It's them. They pull the trigger. The gun doesn't pull the trigger. They pull the trigger. So we have to look very seriously at mental illness," he said.

When he was asked if he pressed his party colleagues on calls for tougher background checks for gun buyers, he told reporters that he was "looking at the whole gun situation".

'We have to start building institutions again'

Mental institutions in the Western world were phased out in the late 20th-century. ( Wikimedia Commons: Tom )

Gun Violence Archive, a non-profit corporation that provides accurate near-real-time information about US gun-related violence, said the total number of America's gun-related deaths in 2019 stood at 9,214.

It also found that about 260 people were the victims of mass shooting incidents.

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Mr Trump is the latest US President under pressure to curb gun violence following mass shootings that killed dozens of people this month in Texas and Ohio.

"I do want people to remember the words mental illness. These people are mentally ill … These are mentally ill people and people have to start thinking about it," Mr Trump said.

"I think we have to start building institutions again."

Many mental institutions in Western countries such as the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia were phased out in the late 20th-century as prevailing medical opinion moved toward community-based care.

Critics of the older institutional model have pointed to the history of institutions placing patients in prison-like conditions, or institutionalising patients for arbitrary reasons.

However, others calling for the return of institutions have pointed to the relative inability of people within the community to care for those with severe forms of mental illness such as schizophrenia.

"A lot of our conversation has to do with the fact that we have to open up institutions," Mr Trump added.

"We can't let these people be on the streets."

24-hour telephone counselling: If you or someone you know is experiencing mental health issues, call: Lifeline on 13 11 14

Lifeline on 13 11 14 Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800

Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800 MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978

MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978 Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467

ABC/Reuters