Focus On...Youth Violence Prevention

Guide to youth violence prevention resources

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Author Affiliations: Wisconsin Medical Society

Corresponding Author: Please address correspondence to the Wisconsin Medical Society at 608.442.3800

A call to action: The physician’s role in the prevention of youth violence

Timothy Westover

Youth violence came to the forefront of public awareness in April 1999 when the Columbine tragedy occurred. A teacher and 14 students died, including the two perpetrators.1 In Columbine’s aftermath, parents, students and teachers nationwide wanted to ensure that such a violent event would not happen in their communities. Initial efforts focused on school security, with tougher policies enacted throughout America. But as more information became available, including a report from the US Surgeon General, it became clear that youth violence is multi-factorial and extends far beyond the need for safer schools.

Author Affiliations: Tim Westover is a second year medical student at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Prior to enrolling in medical school, he spent a year working with at-risk youth. This paper was written as part of an internship with the Wisconsin Medical Society during

Corresponding Author: Please address correspondence to the Wisconsin Medical Society at 608.442.3800

Editorials

Alliance working to stop youth violence

Kathy Garvey, MSN, RN

Since 1995, Stop America’s Violence Everywhere (SAVE) has been a major focus for the physician-spouse members of the AMA Alliance. More than 600 state and county Alliances participate in local SAVE activities. Nationwide, Alliance members have developed anti-violence programs and projects for children of all ages including mentoring programs, teen hotline cards, and mental health seminars, to name a few. To date, approximately 1 million children have completed at least one of the following workbooks developed by the Alliance: Hands are Not for Hitting, I Can Choose, I Can Be Safe, Be A Winner, and I Can Handle Bullies. TV violence, electronic violence and internet safety brochures are also being distributed.



Author Affiliations: Mrs. Garvey is the president of the Wisconin Medical Society Alliance. She lives in Wausau, Wis.

Corresponding Author: Please address correspondence to Wisconsin Medical Society at 608.442.3800

Youth violence prevention: a personal and professional priority

Mark Andrew, MD

Just 3 days after I delivered my presidential inaugural address, stressing the role physicians should play in helping prevent youth violence, I received one of those phone calls parents dread: “Your son has been beaten up at school!” As we went through numerous discussions and “debriefings,” my family and I learned more about the pervasiveness of bullying and harassment at our son’s school. It also brought home to us the difficulties school staff members have in dealing with such events after the fact.



Author Affiliations: Doctor Andrew, a general surgeon from Viroqua, is president of the Wisconsin Medical Society

Corresponding Author: Please address correspondence to the Wisconsin Medical Society at 608.442.3800

Serving up a primer for youth violence prevention

Thomas C. Meyer, MD, Medical Editor, WMJ

Your son has been beaten up in school. What a shattering phone call for any parent to receive, let alone our current president just hours after delivering his articulate inaugural address on this very issue. His speech focused on the problems of youth violence and he pleaded for renewal of physician vigilance in the prevention of and increased involvement in the management of this recent assault on the safety and happiness of our young people. The theme of this issue of WMJ is designed to raise awareness of the problem, provide some indicators as to what we should be looking for during our encounters with school-aged and adolescent patients, and provide some resource information that may be helpful if physicians suspect that a young person is a victim or perpetrator of violence.

Author Affiliations: Medical Editor, WMJ

Corresponding Author: Please address correspondence to the Wisconsin Medical Society at 608.442.3800

Physicians can make a difference in combating youth violence

Joanne Selkurt, MD

Just thinking about youth violence prevention can be overwhelming. So much so that many physicians immediately block the thought from their minds. Or they say to themselves, “This is just one more thing I can’t really do anything about. Why hit my head against a wall?” Or “What would happen if I did ask some screening questions to a child or adolescent and got a positive response? Then what do I do?”



Author Affiliations: Doctor Selkurt is a pediatrician with Gundersen Lutheran Clinic, Whitehall, Wis. She is a member of the Trempealeau County Alliance for Youth.


Corresponding Author: Please address correspondence to the Wisconsin Medical Society at 608.442.3800

Original Research

Bullying: The Physician’s Role

Marlene D. Melzer-Lange, MD; Steven C. Pulley, BS

Bullying is a significant problem for the elementary and middle school children for whom we care. These young patients face significant physical and emotional difficulties as a result of the bullying that occurs in our schools and our communities. In recent school shootings, it has been suggested that bullying and isolation may have been precipitating factors for the violence. Many children and their families look to their primary physicians for advice regarding handling these situations. The objective of this review is to define bullying, and to discuss its prevalence in our communities, its impact, and the role that physicians have in its prevention, identification, and treatment.



Author Affiliations: Dr. Melzer-Lange is Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin and a member of the Wisconsin Medical Society Youth Violence Task Force. Mr. Pulley is a Second Year Medical Student; Medical College of Wisconsin.


Corresponding Author: Please address correpondence to the Wisconsin Medical Society at 608.442.3800

Developing Community Coalitions in Youth Violence Prevention

Wendi K. Heuermann, MPA; Marlene D. Melzer-Lange, MD

Youth violence is a public health problem that needs input from physician leaders to support efforts in their communities. By forming and supporting community coalitions, physicians can advocate for both their individual patients and their community in order to prevent youth violence. In this article, we review the definition, structure, and specific issues of community collaborative efforts in the area of youth violence prevention.



Author Affiliations: Ms. Heuermann is Program Manager, Project Ujima, Children’s Hospital of WIsconsin; Dr. Melzer-Lange is Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin and a member of the Wisconsin Medical Society Youth Violence Task Force.


Corresponding Author: Please address correspondence to the Wisconsin Medical Society at 608.442.3800

Your Practice

Youth violence must be treated at the source

Michael J. Dunn, MD, Dean and Executive Vice President, Medical College of Wisconsin

Physicians must reach the root of an illness to truly treat the problem, rather than just its symptoms. This is equally true for the treatment of violence. For many child and adolescent victims of violent injury, risky behavior and a hostile environment are significant contributing factors. These youths need more than medication or a bandage to heal the social ailment and avert the likelihood of repeat or escalating injury.


Author Affiliations: Dean and Executive Vice President, Medical College of Wisconsin

Corresponding Author: Please address correspondence to the Wisconsin Medical Society at 608.442.3800