Children and Violence
Not all children enjoy the "carefree" days of childhood. Unfortunately, when things start to go wrong, people often despair of being able to repair the damage.
This is a time of high concern about violent behavior by young people. As a nation, we are in a period of reflection as to what can be done to stem this tide. Helping young people avoid or overcome emotional problems in the wake of violence or disaster is one of the most important challenges a parent, teacher, or mental health professional can face. Moreover, children often face violence in their own homes.
NIMH conducts research looking at violence in young people, as well as the effects of violence on young people.
NIMH Publications
Helping Children and Adolescents Cope with Violence and Disasters:
Other NIMH Publications
Related Information
- Information on Coping With Traumatic Events
- Preventing Violence and Related Health-Risking Social Behaviors in Adolescents: an NIH State-of-the-Science Conference
- Youth Violence: A Report from the Surgeon General
- Information from NIH's MedlinePlus on:
- The National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center
A user-friendly, single point of access to federal information on youth violence prevention and suicide, including publications, research, and statistics. - A new CDC report, The Effects of Childhood Stress on Health Across the Lifespan, summarizes the available research on childhood stress and its long-term consequences.
Some mental illnesses also carry an increased risk for suicide.