ABSTRACT
Protective factors include intact family structures, prosocial peer groups, and supportive communities. Preventive interventions include the following: universal, addressed to total population groups; selective, for at-risk populations; and indicated, for children and youth developing violent behavior. Because violence and related psychopathology are slow in developing and present multiple psychiatric markers, child mental health practitioners are in a unique position to identify these problems and intervene early. The complex problem of youth violence and its origins must be approached from an epidemiological perspective, considering both risk and protective factors. There is an added risk factor for United States (US) youth: an unprecedented access to firearms. More US teenagers die from gunshot wounds than from all natural causes combined. Universal preventive measures target entire populations. Many such measures involve the promulgation of far-reaching policies and procedures, which in turn require legislative authorization and funding. Selective preventive measures target identified at-risk populations.
