Lesson 12: Community Mental Health Problems: Violence Across the Lifespan

Attention

The problem(s) of violence are so great, that your textbook authors stop and provide resources "on the ground."
The topic of violence is so important that this is the SECOND chapter in your textbook to explore problem, this time, across the lifespan.

Violence knows no boundaries for age, gender, culture. There is virtually no period in human history that is free from recorded violence of one kind or another.

Peace must be a wondrous things. It would be the exact opposite of violence. I have often thought would we ever recognize it, if peace "broke out!" What would be the frame of reference? It is often invoked in prayers for guidance and wisdom. This does not mean it doesn't exist. The efforts on the part of all community members to prevent, or reduce the risk may be the solution.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this lesson's material, students will be able to:

• Identify and discuss the complications caused by physical abuse during pregnancy.
  
• Describe the reasons and characteristics for gang membership.
  
• Discuss the role of mental health professionals, and community mental health in preventing violence across the lifespan.
  
• Define the role of best practices to address violence across the lifespan.

Teaching

The types and frequency of violence can be keyed to chronological age. Newborns, infants, toddlers, children in early childhhood, middle childhhood children, later childhood children, adolescents at various datelines, adults, whether early, middle, or late, ALL can be victims, and with some exception, the perpetrators CAN be children. It all depends on the social-emotional environment provided in a given time and place- culture.

Lecture

Guy LaLiberte, one of the founders of Cirque du Soleil, has made several remarkable contributions to the world. Aside from guiding the Cirque itself, one percent of sales revenue from ticket purchases goes to a fund entitled "One Drop." Many people around the world do not have water clean enough to drink. This is the beginning of bringing awareness to the problem, and funding the solutions. Without water to drink, to cook, to clean, human life itself is in peril.

But, there is something else he is doing. Because of his family and marriage, he has become very active in providing "saleable" skills and employability to children/adolescents living in Brazil. The infamous "death squads" that made so many headlines in the 1980's, routinely killed homeless street children. This is documented. It has been video taped at great risk to journalists and investigators. Even today, roving street-gangs of children in many tourist destination cities, represent a logistical poblem. While seemingly innocent, and perhaps "only" begging for money, they can turn savage and confrontational. Poverty, neglect, abandonment, and homeless drives the problem. Childhood prostitution, particulary at some world famous beach resorts, is not rare. If anyone thinks of this as a victimless crime, they need to consider the risk of violence to both child and customer from the pimps.

There is a war going on on Mexico. The proportions are so great, that the estimate is that somewhere between 35,000 and upwards of 45,000 people may have perished in just the last five to seven years. The driver here is control and distribution of illegal drugs by several so-called drug cartels. The military of the United States now routinely does NOT want its personnel to visit Mexico, either in or out of uniform, it it that dangerous!!! There have been massacres at drug treatment centers of clients by the cartels of people who were seeking help with their addiction! Intimidation, and savage violence are the norm.

Several years ago, I came to class with a badly bruised face. It was the result of my walking into the edge of a doorway. I did not see it coming. A door edge is only two inches wide!! This led to some wild speculation on the part of my many students as to what happened. Most seemed to believe that I had gotten into a fight. Some even concluded I probably got what I deserved!!! Just a little bit of negative transference here. After seemingly endless curiousity as to what had happened, I simply told them I had been bitten on the nose by a tiger!

As an educator, I meet students of many differing ages. But, it is clear to me, that if I have a student who is less than eighteen years of age, and, they appear to be injured, I am obligated to question this VERY discretely. Tough call. But, I am also aware that injuries to adults may equally well be brought into consideration here. A man, a woman, an under-age child, I may be the only advocate they have for the moment.

Assessment

Lesson 12 Quiz

1. Define the risks factors for perpetuating youth violence. What begins in childhood DOES NOT just "mature-out" and go away. It can become an intergenerational risk factor.

Lesson 12 Discussion A

Review the Domestic Violence Inventory app and identify how you would possibly use this in your practice.

Lesson 12 Discussion B

What resources exist in your community to combat domestic violence? You never know when someone may approach you and asks for help.