Current Challenges in Addressing Youth Mental Health in the Context of Violent Radicalization

Although structural violence and social inequality affect youth physical and mental health throughout the world,¹ the problem of violent radicalization (VR) has more recently emerged as an area of concern for professionals working with youth. Radicalization is a dynamic, complex process that is generated and fueled by intercommunity frictions and conflicting political, social, and economic discourses and interests.² It takes the form of a shift away from a moderate point of view to a rigid one that rejects the status quo and demands drastic societal change, although not necessarily through violence.² Violent radicalization is when radicalization includes the support of or the plan to use violent measures, including hate crimes and incidents and/or mass killings, often targeting a group characteristic (race, religion, gender orientation and identity, or political views), to achieve one's goals of social change.