IL GIORNO – VIOLENT YOUNG PEOPLE. FAMILIES MUST BE HELPED – DOTT. DANIELE NAPPO

Dr. Daniele Nappo, Legal Representative and Founder of the S. Freud Private School, draws attention to the increase in cases of violence among adolescents. The causes are complex and manifold but can mainly be traced back to the need for competition for academic success and the popularity on social media that is rampant among young people.

In recent times, we are witnessing a distressing increase in cases of violence among teenagers. There is an urgent duty of care on the part of the institutions. The causes are complex and manifold. Certainly social tension and the need for competition among peers, particularly with regard to academic success and popularity on social networks, can lead to conflicts and aggression. The Covid period, with the curbing of social activities, has deprived young people of important opportunities for their growth and personal development, and the resulting increase in the use of digital systems has led to a higher incidence of cyberbullying cases. The negative influence of media and technology on the lives of adolescents cannot be overlooked; the spread of violence on social networks and the pressure to conform to certain standards of beauty and online conduct can increase anxiety and depression and, in some cases, lead to suicide. Violence prevention programmes in schools, the provision of counselling and therapy services for troubled young people, and education of families on the evolution of aggression and how to recognise the warning signs can be good starting points for precise and thorough interventions. Teachers and parents should educate young people to respect others, help them to deal with anger and support them. Communication is basic for positive intervention in the phenomenon: it is necessary to help communicate one's feelings and to talk about potential problems that may have occurred at school or among friends, to lead to calm explanations of conflicts and to find explanations for difficulties. It is necessary to develop interventions for those who have experienced violence, with individual therapies to overcome trauma and strengthen self-esteem. If there is any doubt that a young person is experiencing violence it is relevant to intervene immediately. Violence among adolescents is a necessary problem that demands a coordinated response of institutions, society and families.