2006 Saw a Resurgence in US Violence Rates

In 2006 the news contained 22 incidents of schoolHealth Programs. (CSMHA - Dr. Weist, University
violence and reports show that violence in someof Maryland)).
major US cities was higher last year than it has2) Early screening of children with behavior
been in decades. Violence among females andproblems to determine the services that are
pre-teens is also rising, and the US has a greaterneeded
violence rate than any other Western Nation. As3) Major reform and coordination of the
a country, we need to act now to stop thisEducational, Mental Health, Juvenile Justice, Criminal
epidemic.Justice, and Social Services systems.
Most Americans put their faith in the penalYouth at risk for violence have problems in
system. We think that by investing money in jailsmultiple areas of life, such as school failure,
and rehabilitation centers, we will be able to cutbehavior, mental health, and social skills. Helping
down on violence and deter future criminals. It isthem in one area and ignoring other problems is
necessary to place these offenders in jails andnot sufficient to solve the problem.
prisons to protect society; however, in order toPatricia Crowther, a pioneer in school-based
substantially cut down on future violence, wemental health, believes that there are an
must shift our focus and invest time and moneyastounding number of children who need mental
into more resources for prevention andhealth services, but never receive them. "One of
intervention.the most pressing and plaguing problems
USA Today reported that cities, such aspresented to educators," she says, "is the ever
Cincinnati, Houston, New York, Chicago, Oakland,increasing number of children, who despite an
Philadelphia, and New Haven, had higher murderinherent ability to learn are not benefiting from a
rates in 2006 than in prior years ("Murders are upregular classroom teaching experience as shown
in New York, several other U.S. cities for 2006,"by their continuing academic underachievement."
USA Today, December 28, 2006).She believes that the student's lack of
Authorities blame this violence on issuesimprovement is often due to unaddressed mental
surrounding respect, revenge, reputation, andhealth, stress, family, and trauma issues that could
romance. Others say it is the availability ofalso lead to future delinquent and violent acts.
firearms. While either explanation may be true,Studies have shown that only 16 percent of all
we need to look deeper at societal issues, suchchildren receive any mental health services. Of
as violence in American families and schools. Forthat same 16 percent, 70-80 percent receive that
example: Shortly after ringing in the New Year,care in a school setting (Health In School
the news carried reports of 2007's first schoolOrganization).
shooting. Douglas Chanthabouly, 18, was taken"The burden of suffering experienced by children
into custody for the shooting of Samnang Kok,with mental health needs and their families has
17, at Henry Foss High School. Now there arecreated a health crisis in this country," writes
reports of two teens cooking a puppy in an oven,David Satcher, MD, PhD in his "Report of the
one teen stabbing and killing another, and a groupSurgeon General's Conference on Children's Mental
of teens beating three teen girls severely lastHealth: A National Action Agenda." Clearly our
Halloween.violence problem is a public health crisis, as well,
Children should feel safe school, and yet far tooand it must be fixed.
many do not. While most schools haveAs a solution, we can continue to spend more
emergency and evacuation plans for what to domoney on trials and jails. However, we must also
during and after the crisis of a school shooting,put more money into prevention, identification,
how many have prevention plans?and therapy for troubled youth and their families.
School prevention plans should include threeMoney spent in pre-school programs with family
elements:involvement, home visiting programs, and school
1) Immediate and easy access to mental healthbased mental health programs is well spent and
services for all troubled youth and their familieshas demonstrated great results. It's time to take
(Only 10% of all school districts in the USa stand and do more to prevent violence in this
currently have an established School Based Mentalcountry.