Today’s tragic events at Virginia Tech mark the deadliest school shooting in US history. Charles Whitman, a 25 year old ex-marine killed 13 on the University of Texas campus in 1966. Klebold and Harris killed 12 at Columbine High School in 1999. One gunman killed at least 32 and wounded as many more at Virginia Tech today. The campus had bomb threats last week, as well. In fact, violent acts, particularly murders, are on the rise in many US cities. What does this mean? What is happening in our society? Is it preventable?
The risk factors for violence have been well research and are known. Interventions to reduce these risk factors and increase resiliency are also known and have become evidence based practice. Assessment tools can identify seventy-five to eighty-five percent of youth at risk for violence at a young age. Others can create a case plan that outlines the types and intensity of services needed to prevent future violence.
No one risk factor predicts that a youth will be violent. It is the accumulation of risk factors beyond 5 that place a youth at risk for violence. Some of the known risk factors include a history of childhood trauma, skill deficits (poor problem solving, anger management, and social skills), school behavior problems, learning problems, problems interacting with pro-social peers, history of aggression, delinquency, substance abuse, lack of appropriate parental discipline, high conflict and low warmth within the family, and other behavior problems, especially those that start before the age of 13. Vulnerable youth are more easily influenced by violent media of all kinds and are susceptible to stress without good coping skills.
The Olds model of home visiting nurses and preschool with parental involvement have clearly demonstrated their effectiveness in reducing later youth delinquency and violence. Emerging new data indicates that School Based Mental Health programs reduce youth violence. Functional Family Therapy and Multi-systemic therapy are all evidence based practice for “at risk” youth. Stopping child abuse and neglect can reduce future youth violence. Skill building activities help many “at risk” youth. We know how to prevent some percentage of future youth violence. We, as a society, need to commit ourselves to doing so.
Dr. Kathryn Seifert is a psychotherapist with over 30 years experience in mental health, addictions, and criminal justice work. Dr. Seifert has authored the CARE and numerous articles. She speaks nationally on mental health related topics and youth violence. She is an expert witness in the areas of youth and adult violence and sexual offending. Her latest book is coming soon: How Children Become Violent. For more information go to http://www.drkathyseifert.com