GRADE 9 HEALTH REVIEWER: 4TH QUARTER

Intentional injuries are when a person brings harm to themselves or others on purpose. It also used to
refer to injuries resulting from purposeful human action, whether directed at oneself or other people.
This includes self-inflicted and interpersonal acts of violence intended to cause harm. Self-harm is when
a person intentionally brings harm to themselves. An example would be suicide.

KINDS OF INTENTIONAL INJURIES

1. Child Maltreatment
o Acts of Commission (Child Abuse)
o Acts of Omission (Child Neglect)
o Community Violence: includes neighborhood violence - Violence that occurs primarily outside
of the home and involves individuals who may or may not know each other, but who are
unrelated. Some of the acts that fall under the community violence umbrella include sexual
assault, burglary, use of weapons, muggings, the sounds of bullet shots, as well as social-
disorder issues such as the presence of teen gangs, drugs, and racial divisions. Additionally,
community violence typically includes direct and indirect victimization through experiencing
violence, witnessing violence, or hearing about violence in one's neighborhood.
o Elder Abuse: includes elder maltreatment and mistreatment - "Elder maltreatment includes any
abuse and neglect of persons age 60 and older by a caregiver or another person in a
relationship involving an expectation of trust. Examples of elder maltreatment include physical
abuse, sexual abuse/abusive sexual contact, psychological or emotional abuse, neglect,
abandonment, financial abuse, or exploitation" (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
2011).
o Homicide - "Death due to the intentional assault of another person by any means: Intent to
kill is not necessary for a homicide to occur; Homicides, as well as all other forms of violence,
are associated with intentional behaviors" (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011).
o "Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) - includes physical, sexual, or psychological harm by a
current or former partner or spouse. This type of violence can occur among heterosexual or
same-sex couples and does not require sexual intimacy. IPV can vary in frequency and
severity. It occurs on a continuum, ranging from one hit that may or may not impact the victim
to chronic, severe battering. The four main types of IPV include physical violence, sexual
violence, threats of physical or sexual violence, and psychological or emotional violence"
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011).
o School Violence - "School violence typically refers to student- on-student and student-on-
teacher acts of physical harm" (Stuart Henry, What Is School Violence? An Integrated
Definition, ANNALS, AAPSS, 567, January 2000).
o Sexual Violence - Sexual violence (SV) includes any sexual act that is perpetrated against
someone's will. SV encompasses a range of offenses, including a completed nonconsensual
sex act (i.e., rape), an attempted nonconsensual sex act, abusive sexual contact (i.e.,
unwanted touching), and noncontact sexual abuse (e.g., threatened sexual violence,
exhibitionism, verbal sexual harassment). All types involve victims who do not consent or
who are unable to consent or refuse to allow the act" (Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, 2011).
 o Suicide - "Suicide is death caused by self- directed, injurious behavior with any intent to die
as a result of the behavior. Suicidal behavior exists along a continuum from thinking about
ending one's life, to developing a plan, to nonfatal suicidal behavior, to ending one's life.
Suicidal ideation includes thoughts of harming or killing oneself. The severity of suicidal
ideation can be determined by assessing the frequency, intensity, and duration of these
thoughts. A suicide attempt is a nonfatal, self-directed, potentially injurious behavior with any
intent to die because of the behavior. A suicide attempt may or may not result in injury"
(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011).
o Youth Violence: includes bullying, peer harassment, and gang violence - Youth violence is
typically defined as interpersonal violence in persons between the ages of 10 to 24, although
patterns of youth violence can begin in early childhood. Interpersonal violence is defined as "the
intentional use of physical force or power, threatened or actual, against another person or
against a group or community that results in or has a high likelihood of resulting in injury,
death, psychological harm, maldevelopment, or deprivation" (Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention, 2011).

RISK FACTORS
Risk factors help to explain why a problem exists. These factors suggest why certain individuals or
groups are more or less likely to become victims of crime or to be involved in crime.
Risk factors - These are negative influences in the lives of individuals or a community.

DIFFERENT RISK FACTOR LEVELS

Individual Risk Factors
History of violent victimization
Attention deficits, hyperactivity, or learning disorders
History of early aggressive behavior
Involvement with drugs, alcohol
Low IQ
Poor behavioral control
High emotional distress
Antisocial beliefs and attitudes
Exposure to violence and conflict in the family
Family Risk Factors
Authoritarian childrearing attitudes
Harsh, lax, or inconsistent disciplinary practices
Low parental involvement
Low emotional attachment to parents or caregivers
Low parental education and income
Parental substance abuse or criminality
Poor family functioning
Poor monitoring and supervision of children

Peer and Social Risk Factors Community Risk Factors

Association with delinquent peers Diminished economic opportunities
Involvement in gangs High concentrations of poor residents
Social rejection by peers High level of transiency
Lack of involvement in conventional activities such as High level of family disruption
sports, school etc.
Poor academic performance Low levels of community participation
Low commitment to school and school failure Socially disorganized neighborhoods
 Protective factors - These are positive influences that can improve the lives of individuals or the safety
of a community. These may decrease the likelihood that individuals engage in crime or become victims.
Building on existing protective factors makes individuals and communities stronger and better able to
counteract risk factors. There are more protective factors related to intentional injuries aside from the
content of this activity sheet.

SAFETY TIPS
o When possible, avoid walking alone. Walk with someone or walk in areas where other people are near.
o Stay in well-lighted areas, away from alleys, bushes, and entryways.
o Avoid shortcuts through parks, vacant lots, and other deserted places.
o Don't hitchhike or accept rides from strangers.
o If a driver stops to ask you directions, avoid getting near the car. o If you are being followed, go to the
nearest business or residence for help.
o If you are harassed by the occupants of a car, simply turn, and walk the other direction.
o The driver will have to turn around to follow you. Hold your purse close, not dangling, and avoid
carrying extra money or valuables on your person.
o When you return home, have your door key ready so that you can enter without delay. o Don't walk or
jog at night wearing headphones. You need to be able to hear someone driving up or walking up
behind you.
o The youth should be made aware of the dangers of accepting rides from or talking to strangers.
o The youth should be encouraged to talk with their parents if they ever have a problem, not only with a
stranger but also with a friend or relative.
o The youth should know a safe, well-travelled route to take to and from school. Isolated areas should be
avoided.