In recent years, youth violence has increasingly become a serious public health problem. The violence has often resulted in deaths and serious injuries. By celebrating Youth Violence Prevention Week, youth-oriented organizations hope to increase people’s awareness about the causes of youth violence and the victimization that results from it.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control website provides the following statistical overview of the problem:

• In 2003, there were homicides perpetrated on 5,570 young people (defined as those between ages 10 and 24), of which more than 4 out of 5 were killed with the use of firearms. Of these, 86 percent were males.

• In 2004, emergency departments in the nation’s hospitals treated over 750,000 young people for injuries suffered as a result of violence.

• Homicide is the leading cause of death among young African Americans, the second leading cause among young Hispanics, and the third leading cause among young American Indians.

The problem of youth violence is complex. There is a wide variety of risk factors that may contribute to violent tendencies among the youth.

Risk factors for individuals include a history of being victimized violently or of being involved in violence; highly distressed emotionally; low self-esteem; and, exposure to violent environment in the family.

Risk factors in the family may include low income and/or educational level among parents; disciplinary practices that may be too harsh, or too lax, or are not consistent; substance abuse by parents.

There are also risk factors associated with youth groups and peers (such as peer rejection or involvement in gangs) and with the community (such as limited opportunities for economic advancement).

Because of the problem’s complexity, no single approach will be enough. Some of the things young people (and parents) can do to reduce the likelihood of violence are:

• Find ways to reduce young people’s exposure to violence.

• Limit or stop altogether, if possible, exposure to violent games and other media. Too much exposure will trivialize violence, and may make it easier for young people to commit violence.

• Encourage children to find activities that give feelings of having accomplished something in school. Feeling successful reduces frustration and the chances of violence it might bring.

• Help young people find treatment to resolve traumas experienced in the past.

• Ask your children’s schools to implement anti-bullying programs. There should be zero tolerance for all kinds of bullying.

• Encourage abusive parents to seek therapy to help resolve their problems, whether these arise from addictions, mental illness or other causes.

It helps a lot when everyone in the community works together to address youth violence and victimization. This increases the chances of successfully reducing its prevalence.

Add to: del.icio.us | Digg