Teen Life How's Teens Deal With...
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Teen Violence How Do You Prevent Teen Violence? - What Can You Do? - How Have I Been Able To Relate? What Is Teen Violence? Teen violence is real, and is a big part of a teenager's life in the society we live in today. It can include things like dating someone who is violent, who slaps them around frequently, to other teens in school beating on them. Your child sees violence in their school everyday. Many teens are using drugs and alcohol and become very depressed. This can be dangerous because they are not thinking clearly and may bring a gun or knife to school. If a teen is in a bad enough state they could shoot other students or themselves, or maybe a teacher that they feel has been unfair to them. Depression can cause anyone to become violent especially a teenager.
Gang violence among teens is a growing concern. Teens in this situation are subject to being shot at, stabbed, or beaten to death. Teens that are involved in gangs are more likely to commit a violent act towards another person, possibly even killing them. The longer a child lives in this type of environment, the more violent they may become.
Many people think of school shootings when they think of teen violence. But teen violence includes many different activities. These include fights, gang violence and suicide. The victims of teen violence are most often other teenagers. Teens who commit acts of violence are often involved in other types of risky or criminal behavior. They may use drugs, carry weapons, drive recklessly and have unsafe sex. The most critical risk factor for violence for your children is the behavior of their friends and classmates. You should know who your kids hang out with and encourage healthy behavior and relationships. Teen Violence Statistics Fifty percent of men who abuse their spouse will abuse their children. As sad as it sounds, 3 million children are at risk of being assaulted by a parent each year. A teen growing up with their mother being abused will more likely be a violent teenager and adult, than a teen that grows up in a loving home. 40% of teenage girls have friends that have been a victim of some violent act. 1 in 5 high school girls has been in a violent relationship with a boy. Teen violence has been a problem for a long time but statistics show that this problem is growing and getting more violent each year. Understand that it is a serious problem and we need to not take it lightly. How Do You Prevent Teen Violence? The best way to help prevent teen violence is by not allowing it in your home, treat each other, including your teen with respect and courtesy. By doing this you set good examples for your teen, these examples will help teach your teen how to treat others with respect. Talk to your teenager, let them know you understand there is a lot of violence surrounding them. Let your teen know you will be there, and be supportive if they ever need you. Try and stay a part of your teen's life, and if you notice any odd behavior, talk with your child letting them know you are there for them. How Safe Are Schools? It's actually safer to be in school than in a car. Twice as many 15 to 19 year-olds die in car accidents than in shootings (and that's all shootings, not just the ones that happen in schools). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) less than 1% of all homicides among school-age children happen on school grounds or on the way to and from school. So the vast majority of students will never experience violence at school . Still, some schools have re-evaluated their safety needs in response to the concerns of families and communities. Some now require that guests check in at the office or have more guards on duty. Some schools have installed metal detectors. Another thing that helps make schools safer is greater awareness of problems like bullying and discrimination. Many schools have implemented programs to fight these problems and to help teachers and administrators know more about protecting students from this type of violence. Why Does It Happen? School violence isn't easy to understand. There is no single reason why students become violent. Some are just following behavior they've seen at home, on the streets, or in video games, movies, or television. Sometimes, people who turn violent are victims of teasing who've hit a limit and feel like they would do anything to make it stop. They may feel isolated and rejected by their peers. These are only a couple of the reasons why a person may become violent.
There's one thing experts do agree on, though: Having access to guns or other weapons makes it easier for some people to lash out against the things or people they don't like.
Someone on the verge of violence may display warning signs. These can include:
If you start feeling unsafe at school, talk to a trusted adult. That person could be a teacher, parent, school counselor, or religious leader. It can be difficult to report violence, after all, we are taught not to tell on others. But lots of schools have set up ways to report bullying or the possibility of violence anonymously. Maybe your school has (or could set up) an anonymous hotline for people to share concerns without worrying that they may be found telling on another student. If you've witnessed or experienced violence of any kind, not talking about it can make feelings build up inside and cause problems. There's even a condition, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), that can develop in someone who has lived through a traumatic event, such as a serious car accident, physical or sexual abuse, or a shooting. You don't have to be hurt to experience PTSD. For some people, simply watching a traumatic event or being threatened with great physical harm is enough to trigger it. That's why it's important to get help. School counselors can be a good place to start. They're familiar with the issues in your school and can help you put things in perspective. How Have I Been Able To Relate? I have not personally dealt with Teen Violence. But, I have witnessed it. And as much as society wants to believe it doesn't happen, it does. More often than you'd think. And I can vouch for the fact that teen violence most often comes from the parents. I've seen the physical and emotional scars it leaves behind. My friend Stephanie* has dealt with physical and emotional abuse most of her life. Mostly, from her stepfather. Her family watches, and is fully aware it's going on, but never says a word. I'm guessing if they think they ignore it, it'll just disappear. But what about Stephanie? She can't exactly pretend it'll just go away. She's the one that has to live with the physical and emotional scars, that'll haunt her forever. I mean, she's not the best teenager in the world. She mouths off, and gets into trouble just like every other teenager. But, she still doesn't deserve that. No one does. I comfort her as best I can. I let her vent to me for hours on the phone. I give her a place to stay when she needs it. I've even gone far enough as to tell MY parents. But, even then no one says a word. They just say, "Well, it's their business, let them deal with it as best they can." I mean, what do they think silence will solve? Nothing. Absolutely nothing. If that were me, I would be begging for someone to help me, and sometimes Stephanie does, but still. Silence. *Names been changed Sources & Links On Teen Violence: Remember, I'm here to help you the readers, with everyday problems and situations. If you have any ideas for an article, that you want addressed, feel free to e-mail me! Love, Christina |
