Youth Violence & Suicide Prevention

According to the "Understanding Youth Violence Fact Sheet," by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 people between the ages of 10 and 24 are murdered every day. The SafeYouth.org "Youth Suicide Fact Sheet" cites a 1998 study in which suicide was the third leading cause of death among children and teens between the ages of 10 and 19. These staggering statistics are disturbing and heartbreaking, primarily because suicide and youth violence are preventable situations. Understanding the risk factors and preventative methods can better enable you to make a difference in preventing youth violence and suicide.

Risk Factors: Youth Violence

• The direct causes of youth violence are dynamic, changing and difficult to pin down. What may push one teenager to an act of violence may not do the same to another. There are a myriad of factors involved in the context of youth violence, primarily family life, individual attitudes/behaviors, educational engagement and peer group. These factors are known as "risk factors" as they can determine an increased chance for a child or teenager to become a perpetrator of, victim of, or witness to violence. For example, the article "Youth Violence: A Report of the Surgeon General" states that some of the risk factors for youth violence include being male, being from an impoverished background, having weak ties with family members and peers and witnessing violence on television at a young age. Also, children and teens with low IQs, who come from abusive households, and those who abuse drugs or alcohol are also at risk for experiencing youth violence in their lifetime.

Risk Factors: Youth Suicide

• Perhaps the most startling risk factor for youth suicide is that children and teens who have previously attempted suicide are at a greater risk of attempting suicide again, according to the SafeYouth.org "Youth Suicide Fact Sheet." Additional risk factors include undiagnosed and/or untreated mental illnesses, drug and alcohol abuse, exposure and access to firearms, a family history of suicide and suicide attempts, and exposure to the suicidal expressions or acts by celebrities or peers. The article further states that youth suicide can occur in "clusters," so that when one child or teen takes his life, there is a higher risk that his peers will attempt to do the same.

Preventative Methods

• The "Youth Violence Fact Sheet" created by the Centers for Disease Control lists four strategies to comprehensively recognize the risk factors for youth violence and seeks to reduce those risks. For example, positive and consistent parental involvement helps reduce youth violence, as parents can intervene when they believe their child or teen to be considering violence as a solution or is becoming overexposed to violence in the media. The fact sheet also suggests that at-risk youth become involved in mentoring programs that focus on learning alternatives to violence, increasing self-confidence and self-esteem, and developing communication skills.

  The "Youth Suicide Fact Sheet," by SafeYouth.org suggests that the two biggest preventative measures to decrease youth suicide are proper and effective diagnosis and treatment of mental health and drug abuse problems, and eliminating access to dangerous weapons and medications. Included with the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, the article suggests that parents, communities and schools work together to reduce the stigma of mental illness and create safe environments in which children and teens can get the help they need without fear of ridicule or isolation.