Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Violent Signs Given

Violence is a major issue facing today's young adults. One in 12 high school students is threatened or injured with a weapon annually. If you are between the ages of 12 and 24 you face the highest risk of being the victim of violence.

There is no single explanation for the overall rise in youth violence. Many different factors cause violent behavior, according to Charlotte Fant, health educator, Cooperative Extension Service, University of Arkansas.

Often people who act violently have trouble controlling their feelings. If you see the following immediate warning signs, violence is a serious possibility: loss of temper on a daily basis, frequent physical fighting, significant vandalism or property damage, increase in risk-taking behavior, detailed plans to commit acts of violence, announcing threats or plans for hurting others, enjoying hurting animals, and carrying a weapon.

If you notice the following signs over a period of time, the potential for violence exists: a history of violent or aggressive behavior, serious drug or alcohol use, gang membership or strong desire to be in a gang, access to or fascination with weapons, especially guns, threatening others regularly, trouble controlling feelings like anger, withdrawal from friends and usual activities, feeling rejected or alone, having been a victim of bullying, poor school performance, history of discipline problems or frequent run-ins with authority, feeling constantly disrespected, and failing to acknowledge the feelings or rights of others.

If you recognize violence warning signs in someone else, there are things you can do. Above all, be safe! Don't spend time alone with people who show warning signs. If possible, without putting yourself in danger, remove the person from the situation that is setting them off.

Tell someone you trust and respect about your concerns and ask for help. This could be a family member, school guidance counselor, teacher, school psychologist, coach, clergy, school resource officer or a friend. The key to preventing violent behavior is asking an experienced professional for help. Above all, don't go it alone!

For more information on human development, call the Clark County Extension Cooperative Extension office at 246-2281.