Episode 13: The Psychiatry of Youth Gang Violence with Dr. Christopher Thomas

Mind Dive

How dangerous can extreme antisocial behavior become in a young person’s life? When mixed with truancy and the drug trade, a perfect storm brewed in the 1990s as youth gangs proliferated across the country. While tales of gang-related violence once dominated nightly news in households nationwide, it has experienced a steep decline in the last 20 years. In some cities, like Galveston, Texas, the decrease can be partially attributed to a collection of local officials and mental health professionals who approached the situation with an “it takes a village to raise a child” mindset.

Dr. Christopher Thomas, the Robbert L. Stubblefield Professor of Child Psychiatry in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston joins this episode of the Mind Dive podcast alongside hosts Dr. Bob Boland and Dr. Kerry Horrell to discuss the transformative work he spearheaded on the island of Galveston.

Dr. Thomas shares his experience heading a 1992 mayoral task force that strategically targeted the roots of the youth gang issue through teaching empathy in schools, addressing deprogramming needed in post-gang life and uplifting positive role models. Community leaders, nonprofit organizations, teachers, law enforcement and mental health professionals came together to pave better futures for the young islanders by addressing mental health factors and other challenges. Through these efforts, the community saw an 80% reduction in gang-related violent crimes and an unprecedented homicide rate of 0% in under three years.

Dr. Thomas talks about the communitywide nature of the effort. “We can’t tell the difference between the ones that we can save and the ones we can’t,” said Dr. Thomas. “Ultimately, everyone is worthy of a chance.”

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Listen to Episode 12: The Cases That Changed Neuropsychiatry with Dr. Sheldon Benjamin

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Visit The Menninger Clinic website to learn more about The Menninger Clinic’s research and leadership role in mental health.