Article archive / March 1, 2013
Originally published: . Volume 4, No. 7. Source pages: 1, 5.
Professionals from various
behavioral health groups have formed a coalition to promote safety in Louisiana by strengthening early identification of those at risk of violence. The group, named the Louisiana Coalition for Violence Prevention, includes members of the psychology and behavioral health community, a cross section of leaders from school psychology, counseling, and social work.
Steering group member Dr. John Simoneaux told the Times, “Recognizing that it is our responsibility, we want mental health professionals in Louisiana to ensure that we are trained in scientifically sound techniques for identifying and intervening with potentially dangerous individuals.”
The concept that mental health professionals can help reduce violence if they are better able to identify the risk factors and determine the correct next step, stems from ideas voiced by several national experts who commented after the Sandy Hook tragedy that there was no effective mental health system in operation.
“Proper risk assessment is analogous to CPR training,” Simoneaux told the Times, “and should be a basic skill held by virtually all behavioral science professionals and many laypersons.”
Simoneaux is a licensed psychologist, an expert in forensic psychology, and a person who also trains mental health professionals. “Our simple, straightforward idea,” he said, “is based on the hypothesis that we can reduce violence if we can increase early detection.”
The group is planning a number of projects, each with the theme that better detection and accurate knowledge about the antecedents of violent behavior is a key to addressing problems before they escalate into tragedy. Engaging the mental health community and making sure professionals have the necessary skills for early detection is a major goal of the group.
Cindy Nardini, MS, licensed professional counselor, is also a member of the steering committee. She told the Times, “This initiative is different in that it was developed by mental health professionals who are also stepping out first to insure competent skills in identifying and interrupting violent behaviors.” “This plan recognizes that for interventions to be successful, there has to be involvement from those closest to the potentially violent person,” Nardini said, “to the professionals that can offer support and effective treatment. For violence to be reduced and stopped, we must all work together.”
The Coalition is currently working to engage others in the behavioral health community to gather feedback and ideas.
Along with Simoneaux and Nardini, other steering group members of the Coalition include Yael Banai, PhD, Bryan Gros, PhD, and Bobette Laurendine, MSW, LCSW.
Simoneaux explained, “We hope to develop practical and cost effective strategies for delivering this knowledge base and these skills directly to those individuals and professionals who have immediate contact with the potentially violent person.”
Simoneaux said that a lack of violence-related skill and knowledge among mental health staff has been found to be a barrier to early recognition and identification of those who need assistance before a situation escalates out of control.
The goal of promoting the early and effective identification of those at risk for violence is the main direction for the group at this time. Enhancing and strengthening risk assessment skills and abilities for all those in the mental and behavioral health community will help build a net of protection in the Louisiana community, explained Simoneaux.
The Coalition will use existing science and the available knowledge about successful training to guide their efforts, programs which are to be offered to all those in the mental health community, he said. Topics will include information about risk factors for various specific populations and screening techniques for violence potential, Simoneaux said.
Currently the members are also networking with others would are involved in research and development of programs, and learning what has been shown to work in violence prevention, and using those tools if possible in their efforts.
For another phase of their program, the group will include community and layperson training for early detection and referral. According to their website, “Many times it is the perpetrator’s social circle that has the information that violence is possible. We view this social group as essential for us to reach. We propose awareness building aimed at the violent individual, that person’s family and other close relations, and also first-line helpers, such as teachers, other school personnel, clergy, and law enforcement.”
“Those trained in violence risk assessment and intervention will be prepared to outline and formulate specific and concrete safety plans based in the best scientific approaches, rather than in ill-conceived, emotional reactions,” Simoneaux noted.
The group also plans to create a community media effort to support early detection and referral. This will also include messages that help to counteract the negative themes so common in today’s media and entertainment. Also, the group plans to support themes of positive beliefs, connectedness, personal responsibility, and positive models for healthy living and emotional expression, according to their website.
Members are hoping to engage with others in the community and invite anyone interested to contact them. For information, go to louisianacoalitionforviolencepreventi on.com
(Editors note: Julie Nelson, PhD, publisher of the Times, is serving as community member and facilitator for the Coalition.)
National chart from the Center for Disease Control showing states’ homicide rates for youth and young adults through years 2003 to 2007. Louisiana falls in top quartile. A workshop at Professional Training Resources. Dr. John Simoneaux, developer of PRT, along with colleagues from psychology, counseling, school psychology and social work are looking at ways to help in violence prevention. They have created the Louisiana Coalition for Violence Prevention and believe that better skills for mental health professionals in early detection of at-risk individuals may be an important key.
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