Youth Violence Prevention Week: March 19-25, 2018
Youth Violence Prevention Week
March 19-25
Youth Violence is considered an important public health problem. Youth Violence affects thousands of young people every day. This serious problem mostly occurs in people who are between the ages of 10 and 24 years old.
Examples of Youth Violence
- Fights
- Bullying
- Child Abuse or Neglect
- Sexual Abuse, Assault, or Rape
- Making Threats about Using Weapons
- Gang-Related Violence
Different Types of Youth Violence
- Physical Harm is any form of violence taken that can hurt someone’s body and may result in injury.
- Psychological Harm is a form of violence that damages the mind.
Risk Factors
- Individual
- History of Violence or Aggressive Behavior
- History of Emotional Problems
- Learning Disorders
- Emotional Distress
- Exposure to Violence
- Family
- Cruel Disciplinary Practices
- Little Parental Involvement
- Muted Emotional Attachment
- Defective Family Functioning
- Lack of Supervision of Children
- Social
- Relationships with Criminals or Gangs
- Rejection
- Bad Academic Performance
- Reduced Involvement in Usual Activities
In 2015, 485,610 children and young adults were victims of violence. We believe the relationship between violence and mental health requires further research and attention. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, one in five adolescents has a mental health “condition”. Of those children, 70% do not receive treatment. Failure to diagnose and treat mental health conditions impacts the child’s life and society at large.