Monday, April 30, 2012

Viennese Journal 9.0 - Youth Mental Health and Social Reintegration

Youth Mental Health

The morning session focused on mental health of children in the juvenile justice system. I learned about a training called “Mental Health First Aid” that has been proven to reduce suicide rates and rates of self-mutilation among detained youth and prisoners.  We also heard from experts from around the world who were in agreement that what children need is the consistent love and care of a committed adult.  This helps them with the safety, protection they need. It helps them imagine a life beyond their terrible circumstances, and the path out of their difficult life. It helps them process the difficulties of poverty, addiction, family disintegration, discrimination, and other factors which lead to widespread depression among children vulnerable to victimization and becoming offenders.

“We must not let our jails and detention centers become substitutes for weak or non-existence social care networks,” said one delegate.

These children have “little wishes,” said another delegate, “ non-judgmental listening, 2 showers a week, a phone call to Mom every day, more than one hour visitation. These things don’t cost much, and can go a long way for kids in detention.”

“They need to see the face of a parent or someone acting as a parent at the table every night; this can change the trajectory of children at risk.”

Another expert from the World Health Organization said “what kids need is one person to look out after them, the personal relationship of one person to help them get back on track.”

Panelists hit upon several themes that I have experienced when speaking with kids in Durham about what they need.

Guidance and Support: First at risk youth have trouble at home; their family cannot provide guidance and support. Being raised by a grandmother, or aunt who is over worked – without the steady love and support of mothers or fathers, it is hard to find love and support at home. Kids often face a variety of mental health problems including moderate depression, and need professional health care.


Economic Opportunity: Second, at risk youth want to make money. It is really easy to make a lot of money very quickly in gangs. There are no other economic opportunities on the Street for legitimate work that can compete with the lure of cash in a gang.

Protection: Third, they said they need protection. If they resist street culture, they get picked on, demeaned, bullied. So “if you can’t beat them, join them,” one young lady said.  If they aspire or dream for something more than the street, they become targets of ridicule. So many people are depressed and angry about not being able to succeed in a legitimate way, that there is an attitude that if I can’t have it, I don’t want it.

Peer group: Fourth, they said the gangs provide a group of peers who know what they are going through and who understand their struggles without judging them. They feel a part of something, they belong.

The broader community needs effective social support system to supplement a struggling structure and change the trajectory of these young people away from committing offenses. These kids need this loving support to thrive and flourish in our communities.

The United Nations Office of Drug and Crimes offers a manual on the measurement of juvenile justice programs and the improvement of the treatment of juveniles. http://www.unodc.org/pdf/criminal_justice/06-55616_ebook.pdf

There are also the Minimum Rules for the treatment of Juveniles, called the Beijing Rules, http://www2.ohchr.org/english/law/beijingrules.htm

Social Reintegration of Former Offenders into society

We attended another session later in the morning on the social reintegration of offenders into communities and the way this prevents recidivism.   An advocate for international victim’s rights said that victim’s benefit from re-socialization programs, and are comforted by strong programs that help offenders return to the community under the care and supervision of reintegration programs.

In Thailand they have a “yellow ribbon” ceremony welcoming the former offender back into the community. These are genuine community celebrations that make the former offenders feel like they genuinely have a second chance in the community and that the former offender has support in the community.

A good re-socialization and reintegration program greatly reduces recidivism the delegates agreed.

The United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime offers a handbook on social reintegration of offenders into society. http://www.unodc.org/documents/justice-and-prison-reform/cjat_eng/4_Social_Reintegration.pdf

After our sessions we jumped on a train back to London and landed in a hotel at Gatwick airport. We fell over exhausted. 

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