The information presented in the PBS report on “Gun Violence is a Public Health Crisis in Chicago” has provided some insightful material on how to address this issue with the help of psychological and psychiatric treatment. An exorbitant number of black male youth between the ages of 15-24 are finding their lives cut short or impaired by the senseless violence that occurs on the streets of the South and West side of Chicago streets where the socio-economic class is primarily in the low to poor range of the spectrum. The report by PBS informs viewers that the gun violence crisis is a public health concern that should be addressed no differently than any other public health crisis would be handled. According to the PBS report, 506 deaths occurred as a result of gun violence in 2012 (PBS New Hour 2013). One particular mother named Shirley Chambers lost her fourth child to gun violence, which is entirely unfathomable for any parent (PBS New Hour 2013).
It is not only the amount of death that occurs as a result of gun violence, but other problems that arise for those who face permanent injury and damage to their bodies when shot. Surely it is fortunate that they are alive, but the condition with which they survive is often life altering when individuals like the young man in the video are left severely disabled. Additionally there are other concerns mentioned by a pediatrician in the report who suggests the lack of health that results due to an inability to get outside and take care of their health through fitness. Most people in these Chicago neighborhoods are scared to do something as simple as go for a jog, walk, or bike ride because it is so easy to become the victim of gun violence (PBS New Hour 2013).
One of the suggestions made by the experts on the report is to intervene from a psychological or psychiatric standpoint, which appears to be a useful solution to such a tragic problem. Dr. Marie Crandal, a trauma surgeon at Northwestern Memorial Hospital points out that treatment of the wounds and emergent situation to save the victim is not the only thing that should be done, but addressing the underlying root cause of what leads so many of these individuals to this lifestyle is crucial to break the cycle of violence (PBS New Hour 2013). Dr. Crandel’s trauma team now invites community based violence mediators when gunshot victims are seen in the hospital.
Harper High School is studied by a group to better understand what the issues are and how if at all prevention is possible. An experiment was done using a number of high risk teens from the school that were split up into an experimental and control group. The experimental group participated in a program called Becoming a Man (BAM), where they are counseled on how to manage impulsive angry behavior that leads to violence (PBS New Hour 2013). According to the researchers involved in the clinical trial, those groups who participated in the BAM program showed a 44 percent reduction in arrests and violence, which is incredibly hopeful news (PBS New Hour 2013). The clinical trials done on Harper students shows valuable empirical evidence of implementing preventative measure to help alter the behavior and therefore the trajectory of these at risk youth.
One must argue that these psychological style preventative programs are an incredibly helpful solution in addressing this public health crisis. According to an article in the UChicago website, “We have data from the most rigorous possible scientific study suggesting that it is not only possible to prevent youth violence involvement through pro-social programming, but that the returns on investment are extremely high,” Ludwig continued. “The benefit-cost ratios are on the order of 3:1 to 31:1” (Harms, 2012). It is without a doubt that psychological interventions in the form of programs like BAM are useful in addressing the tragic reality facing these lower income black youth. In a report published by Crime Lab a “critical turning point seems to occur as children approach middle school age, when both arrest and dropout rates begin to increase,” which could be altered if appropriate guidance and treatment became available to many of these youth who come from impoverished single parent homes where opportunity and hope are nearly non-existent (The University of Chicago 2016). In conclusion, maybe the key to shifting these tragic statistics lies in the preventative psychological intervention that will allow these individuals to understand that life is much more valuable and that they are capable of self-control to alter their future if they exercise emotional discipline.
References
Harms, William. 2012. “Study: Chicago Counseling Program Reduces Youth Violence,
Improves School Engagement.” Study: Chicago counseling program reduces youth
violence, improves school engagement. Retrieved February 18, 2016
(http://news.uchicago.edu/article/2012/07/13/study-chicago-counseling-program-reduces-
youth-violence-improves-school-engagemen).
PBS News Hour. 2013. “Gun Violence Is Public Health Crisis In Chicago.” YouTube. Retrieved
February 18, 2016 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kqkclfwelxy).
The University of Chicago. 2016. “CRIME LAB.” Report: Gun Violence Among School-Age
Youth in Chicago. Retrieved February 18, 2016
(https://crimelab.uchicago.edu/page/report).
