Boys Town: Challenges for the Youth They See

 This lesson is from the Hall of History at Boys Town.  It points out the problems of youth can be complex and involve a host of related issues.  

Caring for children: five main challenges for youth who come to Boys Town

Violence Free: We All Play a Role

**Public Health: Peaceful Community

Because a peaceful community is a more healthy community, public health has created this pamphlet and website.  The website allows people to tell their stories of how they are promoting a peaceful community.

**Domestic Violence: Leading Cause of Injury in Adult Women

This little flyer is presented by AACI Asian Women's Home in San Jose.  It includes resources for victims of domestic violence in Santa Clara County.  It says, "If you or someone you know is being abused help is available!  You are not alone."  It also makes this statement, "Domestic violence is the leading cause of injurt to women between the ages of 15 and 44 in the U.S. (more than car accidents, muggings and rape combined).

If you can't see the numbers try clicking on the picture or you can get a copy of the flyer at (408) 975-2730 ex 222.

**October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month

http://www.sccgov.org/sites/owp/Pages/dvam.aspx
Domestic Violence can be such a tragedy.  If not checked, the result can be death.  The cost in physical and emotional trauma is  devastating.  If we approach conversation with open hands, palms up, we can overcome the violence.  If you find yourself tensing, making a fist, it is time to time yourself out.  Get away, and come back to deal with the issue after you have calmed yourself down.

**Violence Against Women

What would be the improvement in the health and quality of life of our women, if we did away with violence towards them.  It is important to remember: Women are not property, they do not belong to you.  There is no excuse for being violent.  If you feel the need to control, then you need to take a look at yourself, and see where you are on the continuum of violence, and take a few steps back.

**Mentally Ill and Violence

I came across an incident in the Deseret News today of a man, reportedly with mental illness, taking and ax to his mother and slitting her throat.
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865603316/Ax-wielding-Kearns-man-attacked-his-mother-police-say.html
 Apparently they were having a family conflict.
Incidents like this give the impression that persons with mental illness are more prone to violence than others, however each person is an individual.
Use of drugs, especially if co-occurring with a mental illness can indeed lead to more violence, but it it does not follow that people who do drugs and have mental illness are always violent. 
This article gives some insight.  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1525086/
"Are the public at risk? Mental disorders are neither necessary nor sufficient causes of violence. Major determinants of violence continue to be socio-demographic and economic factors. Substance abuse is a major determinant of violence and this is true whether it occurs in the context of a concurrent mental illness or not."
It is important to for a mental health worker to access for violent risk; danger to self and others on a frequent basis.  However it is just as important not to assume that because someone has mental illness that they will be violent.