SafetyIssues Personal and Public Safety News Articles: Youth Violence Prevention Week

Youth Violence Prevention Week
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Staff writer for safetyissues.com on 03/30/08 01:11:00
 
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.