1318 Starting from scratch…results from developing a novel public health youth violence prevention programme in Northern Ireland

Abstract

<h3>Background</h3> It is well recognised that paramilitary activity and sectarian violence were prevalent in Northern Ireland (NI) during ‘The Troubles’. However, within NI, youth violence including penetrating knife trauma, is not well publicised, in contrast to the Republic of Ireland and elsewhere in the United Kingdom. Shockingly, the NI 2020 State of Child Health report stated that the incidence of injury by sharp object to young people (aged 15–19 years) was 38.2 per 100,000, which is on par with Scotland and England. We set up a medical working group, and aimed to scope out the feasibility of implementing a public health youth violence and knife crime prevention programme in NI. <h3>Objectives</h3> Our objectives were to assess opinions on youth violence, review current interventions and investigate how to create an appropriate youth violence prevention intervention, for the right population. <h3>Methods</h3> The medical working group consisted of paediatric physicians with an interest and experience in adolescent trauma and youth violence. We contacted and surveyed relevant professionals in NI, to have representation from Education, Youth Work, Mental Health, Social Care and Youth Justice System (YJS). <h3>Results</h3> Findings of the scoping exercise included: Youth violence has not been the focus of strategy to date. A youth violence and psychological trauma network has been established. This is a collaboration of multiple professionals with an interest in youth violence, including, youth justice social workers, civil servants and education representatives. An adult focused violence prevention intervention model will be piloted in a district general hospital emergency department, utilising emergency department based social workers to educate violence victims during the ‘teachable moment’ and reduce further involvement. There are 977 10–19 year olds in the YJS, predominantly males and living in Belfast but limited meaningful healthcare data exists to find out the true scale of the problem. A checklist is currently being developed to improve data collection including screening for violence when a young person or adult attends the Emergency Department with an injury and screening for Adverse Childhood Experiences which are known risk factors for youth violence involvement. Plans are evolving to improve engagement with young people about perceptions and needs relating to youth violence and to set up targeted education-based interventions to break the cycle in those particularly vulnerable to youth violence recidivism. <h3>Conclusions</h3> In conclusion, despite the concerning statistics about youth violence in NI, there are no current specific strategies, policies or interventions to reduce youth violence. There is a large population of centrally located vulnerable at risk young people, within the YJS. As a result of our scoping, there is a growing interest among multidisciplinary professionals as to how best to tackle youth violence in NI and they are supportive of the proposed engagement strategy and medical education-based prevention programme to reduce youth violence.