The Impact of a Violence Reduction Intervention on Students’ Mental Wellbeing.

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Abstract

Contrary to media coverage, youth delinquency has declined, whilst concerns about mental health have risen. Evidence suggests a shortage of support for youth mental health with the criminal legal system becoming a primary site of mental health care for historically disadvantaged and marginalized youth. In this study, I examine whether and how involvement in a school-based violence prevention program impacts students' wellbeing. I hypothesize that students who regularly participate in a violence reduction program will show improved perceptions of their own mental and physical well-being. To evaluate this, I draw on data from students who completed surveys that gauge their perceptions about their own wellbeing before, during, and after the completion of a two-semester violence reduction intervention. I compare students who participated in a violence-reduction program that adopts Aggression Replacement Therapy with several students in a control group. I assess levels of self-rated mental health between treatment and control groups as well as the dosage, or the frequency students receive services. This paper aims to contribute to the ongoing dialogue on youth mental health within the context of school discipline and the broader criminal justice system while critically examining the effectiveness of current support structures offered to students in public education.

Author

• Candilaria Martha Gonzalez, University of Texas at Austin