What is violence?
Violence includes physical, verbal, or emotional injury from one person against another. Violence can be perpetrated by people we know or by others in and outside of our community (e.g., community-based violence). No matter the source, violence can carry a significant toll on people’s mental and physical health.
Who is affected by violence in Milwaukee?
A group of 400 adult Black Milwaukee residents described various experiences of violence they directly had experienced or witnessed. On average, residents described experiencing 5 different types of violence in their lifetime and nearly 15 violent incidents. Everyone endorsed at least one experience of violence, and at most participants reported 90 experiences.
What increases violence?
Many factors can increase a person’s risk of experiencing violence, and not everyone faces these risks equally. Unfair systems can create crowded or deteriorating neighborhoods and keep people in poverty, which can lead to more violence in our communities.
What can we do about violence and the impact of violence?
To address violence in our community we must target the underlying causes that perpetuate violence by:
- Supporting those affected by violence through social support, community services, and easier access to mental health treatment
- Growing social services to help people move out of poverty and build economic stability
- Revitalizing our urban areas by upgrading infrastructure and housing that perpetuate inequity
- Strengthening community connection and unity within neighborhoods
Click here for more information about the D.R.I.V.E. study.
The D.R.I.V.E. study was supported by a grant from the Advancing a Healthier Wisconsin Foundation.