Suicide / Parasuicide

Definition
An apparent attempt at suicide, commonly called a suicidal gesture, in which the
aim is not death. For example, a sublethal drug overdose or wrist slash. Previous
parasuicide is a predictor of suicide. The increased risk of subsequent suicide
persists without decline for at least two decades.

Prevention
Suicide prevention is an umbrella term for the collective efforts of local citizen organizations, health
professionals and related professionals to reduce the incidence of suicide. Beyond
direct interventions to stop an impending suicide, methods also involve a) treating the psychological
and psycho-physiological symptoms of depression, b) improving the coping strategies of persons
who would otherwise seriously consider suicide, c) reducing the prevalence of conditions believed to
constitute risk factors for suicide, and d) giving people hope for a better life after current problems
are resolved.

Parasuicide rates have shown a marked increase in recent years and now
consume a substantial proportion of medical services. To reduce hospital
admission rates for parasuicide is probably desirable.
 Domestic Violence

Definition
Domestic violence (also named domestic abuse or family violence) is violence or other abuse by
one person against another in a domestic setting, such as in marriage or cohabitation. It may be
termed intimate partner violence when committed by a spouse or partner in an intimate
relationship against the other spouse or partner, and can take place in heterosexual or same-
sex relationships, or between former spouses or partners. Domestic violence can also involve
violence against children, parents, or the elderly, and may be done for self-defense. It takes a
number of forms, including physical, verbal, emotional, economic, religious, reproductive, andsexual
abuse, which can range from subtle, coercive forms to marital rape and to violent physical abuse
such as choking, beating,female genital mutilation and acid throwing that results in disfigurement or
death. Domestic murders include stoning, bride burning,honor killings, and dowry deaths.

Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is committed to ensuring that all Americans,
especially those at risk for intimate partner violence (IPV), live to their fullest potential. The goal is to
stop IPV before it begins. Disrupting the developmental pathways toward partner violence and
teaching skills that promote respectful, nonviolent relationships through individual, relationship,
community, and societal level change are key strategies. Creating protective environments where
people work, live, and play, and strengthening economic supports for families to make violence less
likely are also important
 Bullying

Definition
Bullying is the use of force, threat, or coercion to abuse, intimidate, or
aggressively dominate others. The behavior is often repeated and habitual. One essential
prerequisite is the perception, by the bully or by others, of an imbalance of social or physical power,
which distinguishes bullying from conflict.[1] Behaviors used to assert such domination can include
verbalharassment or threat, physical assault or coercion, and such acts may be directed repeatedly
towards particular targets.Rationalizations of such behavior sometimes include differences of social
class, race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, appearance, behavior, body language, personality,
reputation, lineage, strength, size, or ability.[2][3][4] If bullying is done by a group, it is called mobbing.[5]

Prevention
Parents, school staff, and other caring adults have a role to play in preventing
bullying. They can:

 Help kids understand bullying. Talk about what bullying is and how to
stand up to it safely. Tell kids bullying is unacceptable. Make sure kids
know how to get help.
 Keep the lines of communication open. Check in with kids often. Listen to
them. Know their friends, ask about school, and understand their concerns.
 Encourage kids to do what they love. Special activities, interests, and
hobbies can boost confidence, help kids make friends, and protect them
from bullying behavior.
 Model how to treat others with kindness and respect.
 Stalking

Definition
Stalking is unwanted or obsessive attention by an individual or group towards another person.
Stalking behaviors are related to harassment and intimidation and may include following the victim in
person or monitoring them. The term stalking is used with some differing definitions
in psychiatry and psychology, as well as in some legal jurisdictions as a term for a criminal offense.

Prevention
Stalking is unpredictable and dangerous. There are no guarantees that what works for
one person will work for another, yet there are steps you can take to increase your
safety.

 If you are in immediate danger, call 911.

 Trust your instincts. Don’t downplay the danger. If you feel you are unsafe, you probably
are.
 Take threats seriously. Danger generally is higher when the stalker talks about suicide or
murder, or when a victim tries to leave or end the relationship.
 Contact a crisis hotline, victim services agency, or a domestic violence or rape crisis
program, such as DOVE. We can help you devise a safety plan, give you information about
local laws, weigh options such as seeking a protection order, and refer you to other services.
 Develop a safety plan, including things like changing your routine, arranging a place to stay,
and having a friend or relative go places with you. Decide in advance what to do if the stalker
shows up at your home, work, school, or somewhere else. Tell people how they can help
you. Click here to learn more about safety plans for stalking.
 Don’t communicate with the stalker or respond to attempts to contact you.
 Gang & Youth Violence

Definition
A gang & Youth is a group of friends or members of a family with a defined leadership and internal
organization that identifies with or claims control over territory in a community and engages, either
individually or collectively, in illegal, and possibly violent, behavior. Some criminal gang members
are "jumped in" (by going through a process of initiation), or they have to prove their loyalty and right
to belong by committing certain acts, usually theft or violence. A member of a gang may be called
a gangster, a gang banger, or, less specifically, a thug.

Prevention
Preventing youth involvement in gangs is an important issue. Compared to non-gang members, gang
members commit a disproportionate amount of violent crimes and offenses across the country. Gangs and
gang involvement result in short- and long-term negative outcomes for gang-involved youth, their friends
and families, and the surrounding communities.1 Gangs are typically defined as groups having the
following characteristics:
 Extortion

Definition
Extortion (also called shakedown, outwrestling and exaction) is a criminal offense of obtaining
money, property, or services from an individual or institution, through coercion. It is
sometimes euphemistically referred to as a "protection racket" since the racketeers often phrase
their demands as payment for "protection" from (real or hypothetical) threats from unspecified other
parties; though often, and almost always, the person or organization offering "protection" is the same
one willing to cause harm if the money is not paid, and such is implied in the "protection" offer.
Extortion is commonly practiced by organized crime groups. The actual obtainment of money or
property is not required to commit the offense. Making a threat of violence which refers to a
requirement of a payment of money or property to halt future violence is sufficient to commit the
offense. Exaction refers not only to extortion or the demanding and obtaining of something through
force,[1] but additionally, in its formal definition, means the infliction of something such as pain and
suffering or making somebody endure something unpleasant.[2]

Prevention

 Awareness and Avoidance Training

 Organisational Policy and Implementation
 Responses to Extortion and Ransom
 Real Time Operational Support
 Hostage Survival
 Victim and Organisational Post Incident Support
 Verbal Abuse

Definition
Verbal abuse (also known as reviling, "verbal bullying", verbal violence or verbal
assault/battery) is described as a negative defining statement told to the victim or about the victim,
or by withholding any response, thereby defining the target as non-existent. If the abuser does not
immediately apologize and retract the defining statement, the relationship may be a verbally abusive
one.[1] Anger underlies, motivates and perpetuates verbally abusive behavior.[1]

Prevention
1. Abuse is never justified so, you should never feel that it is your fault.
2. Let the abuser know how hurtful their words are and discuss with them the fact
that it is unacceptable to you. Set boundaries on what you will and will not accept
from your abuser.
3. Seek counseling, either together or separately.
4. Surround yourself with a support system of family and friends. Discuss with
them what is happening and how you are feeling.
5. If the verbal abuse escalates to physical abuse, leave. Your personal safety is
far more important than the relationship.
6. Do not engage in conflict with your abuser. If your spouse becomes angry stay
calm, walk away and don’t give him/her what they want…a reaction from you.
7. Take back your power. If you react to the abuser, you are rewarding them.
Letting them know they have power over your emotions. Don’t allow the abuser to
have control over how you feel.
8. Leave the marriage. If setting boundaries, getting therapy and refusing to
respond to the abuse doesn’t work, then maybe your marriage is over. There are
times when the best thing you can do for yourself is, break all ties with your
abuser.
 Sexual Abuse

Definition
Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is usually undesired sexual behavior by one person
upon another. It is often perpetrated using force or by taking advantage of another.[1] When force is
immediate, of short duration, or infrequent, it is calledsexual assault[citation needed]. The offender is
referred to as a sexual abuser or (often pejoratively) molester.[2] The term also covers any behavior
by an adult or older adolescent towards a child to stimulate any of the involved sexually. The use of
a child, or other individuals younger than the age of consent, for sexual stimulation is referred to
as child sexual abuse or statutory rape.

Prevention
This guide is intended to inform people who wish to learn more about child sexual abuse prevention
programs designed to educate children.It is also intended to assist advocates and prevention
educators in selecting or designing prevention programs, and to provide evidence to support
prevention educators in their efforts to make the case for the benefits of these programs to funders,
parents, or the community at large.
 Terrorism

Definition
There is no universal agreement on the definition of terrorism.[1][2] Various legal systems and
government agencies use different definitions. Moreover, governments have been reluctant to
formulate an agreed upon and legally binding definition. These difficulties arise from the fact that the
term is politically and emotionally charged.[3] In the United States of America, for example, Terrorism
is defined in Title 22 Chapter 38 U.S. Code § 2656f as "premeditated, politically motivated violence
perpetrated against noncombatant targets by subnational groups or clandestine agents."[4] According
to Matusitz (2013), terrorism includes the following:[5]

Prevention
Terrorism continues to pose a major threat to international peace and security and undermines
the core values of the United Nations. In addition to the devastating human cost of terrorism, in
terms of lives lost or permanently altered, terrorist acts aim to destabilize governments and
undermine economic and social development. Addressing this threat is that much more difficult
given the complex and constantly evolving nature of terrorist activity. Its motivations, financing,
methods of attack and choice of target are constantly changing. Terrorist acts often defy national
borders; one act of terrorism can involve activities and actors from numerous countries. Given
this complexity, strong coordination and cooperation within national governments and between
states and organizations at the regional and international level is essential to effectively combat
terrorism, to share best practices and lessons learned and to assist with the investigation and
prosecution of terrorism cases.
 Kidnapping & Abduction

Definition
The terms abduction and kidnapping are sometimes used interchangeably. At common
law, kidnapping consisted of the forcible abduction or stealing or carrying away of a
person from one’s own country to another. Kidnapping is the taking away of a person by
force, threat, or deceit, with intent to cause him or her to be detained against his or her
will. Kidnapping may be done for ransom or for political or other purposes. Abduction
is the criminal taking away a person by persuasion, by fraud, or by open force or violence

Prevention

Don’t send children on short errands alone, not even to the neighborhood store.
Avoid having your children play outside in the yard after dark, unless there is a parent
supervising. For that matter, have a parent around to supervise any time children are playing in
the front yard.
If children are ever on their own, keep them in pairs. A lone child is a much bigger target for an
abductor.
Get a watch going with other neighborhood parents, so that children are always supervised at
the bus stop or walking to and from school. If it is possible, take turns walking the kids from the
bus stop to reduce the threat of not only an abductor, but of a possible pedestrian accident.
Remember that most murder abductions are abductions of opportunity. Do your best to
eliminate that opportunity to begin with.