Summary
Violence and fear of violence are major factors that undermine health and worsen health disparities, and this fact sheet describes violence and lack of safety as a health equity issue. Links Between Violence and Health Equity demonstrates how preventing violence is an important component of any effort to achieve health equity and create healthy communities.
Public health has prevention expertise and can bring together partners to address the root causes of violence, such as poverty, oppression, failing schools and unemployment. Criminal justice and law enforcement cannot address violence on their own, and this fact sheet shares key public health strategies that prevent violence before it occurs.
Preventing violence has tremendous value, not just by saving money and lives, but also as a means to foster well-being, promote health equity, and strengthen communities. Learn more by reading this fact sheet, part of the Making the Case series.
Also read the other UNITY Fact Sheets on the connections between violence and chronic diseases, mental illness and poor learning.