It's important to understand that the youth of today is going through a lot of changes and it becomes difficult for them to navigate their emotions. Old times were gold times but now the environment is becoming very challenging for an individual to survive. There are many reasons for violence in youth and trigger factors which will be discussed below.

It's mandatory to listen to them and try to understand the perspective of this generation and also to encourage them to find healthy ways to deal with emotions.

Violence

 “An extreme form of aggression used to damage someone or destroy something and cause harm.”

The terms violence and aggression coincide with each other.

Aggression 

‘Any behavior or act aimed at harming a person or animal or damaging a physical property.’

This violence, aggression, irritability, frustration and anger are commonly observed in teenagers. This must be resolved to create a positive social environment.

 

Reasons of Violence

1)     Familial factors:

·        Abuse or neglect

·        Disturbed family

·        Unfavorable treatment

 

2)     Social factors:

·        Lack of attention

·        Low self esteem

·        Nasty friends

 

3)     Exposure to violence:

·        Emotional trauma

·        Seeing real-world violence

·        Television media

·        Social media

·        Access to weapons

 

Trigger Factors:

Besides the major reasons of youth violence, there are also some triggers factors which lead them to behave violently. These include:

·        Emotional damage

·        Work stress

·        Social relations

·        Family tensions

·        Physical condition

·        Mental health state

Violent Actions:

When the youngsters feel irritable and restless they become angry. When things don’t go their way they become violent. When someone treats them unfairly they feel down. When they run after something and are unable to achieve it, their emotions go uncontrollable. In the teenage, they are also going through hormonal changes. Collectively, these factors make them aggressive resulting in negative outcomes. The violent actions commonly observed are:

·        Shouting

·        Destroying belongings

·        Teasing others

·        Bullying

·        Spreading rumors

·        Threatening to harm others

 

How to deal with violence in youth?

Here are some tips to deal with youth violence:

 Give them space

 Comfort the individual

 Encourage positive behavior

 Cheer them up

 Avoid using physical punishment

 Help them find healthy outlets for emotions

Motivate them for self-care

Disconnecting them from technology for sometime

Seek professional assistance from someone who specializes in violent behavior

Treatment:

1)     Psychotherapy

It includes coping techniques, addressing mental health symptoms, regulating emotions, navigating interpersonal relations and exploring the challenges that effect the mood of the individual.

2)     Medication

It may include any one of the following:

·        Antipsychotics

·        Antidepressants

·        Mood stabilizers