Overcoming Violence

Violence is preventable

Violence and trauma happen all around us—in our homes, in our communities, to whole populations. But that doesn’t mean we have to accept it—because it’s possible to prevent. It’s possible to heal. We’re dissecting the whys and hows behind violence to stop it before it starts, repair its damage, and build resilience.

We’re starting at the source, understanding the root causes that trigger violence and the lasting harm caused by violence and prejudice in all forms. We’re bringing scientific rigor to the quest for effective policies. And we’re taking data-driven approaches to determine what solutions actually work. We’re also digging into the emotional, physical and genetic drivers of resilience so we can all heal better.

We’re advancing the science of safer, stronger, and more just communities.

Spotlight

FXB Center for Health & Human Rights
The François-Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights at Harvard University envisions a world that fulfills the health and human rights of all peoples and protects them from injustices imposed by discrimination, poverty, conflict, and disaster.
Learn more

Recent Stories

The Turkey-Syria earthquake’s humanitarian challenges

The February 6 earthquake in Turkey and Syria has killed more than 35,000 people and left tens of thousands more injured and displaced.

Better Off Podcast: How can we protect the health of incarcerated people?

As COVID-19 swept through American prisons and jails in 2020, wardens scrambled to keep prisoners and corrections officers from getting sick. One strategy was to increase solitary confinement. Health experts warn that solitary confinement increases the risk of…

A healer’s journey

Lin Abdul Rahman, DrPH ’24, has spent a career advocating for children who have suffered sexual abuse—even as she has healed from her own childhood trauma.

Gun violence researchers at Harvard Chan School receive largest-ever grant

Researchers at Harvard Chan School have received a five-year, $5 million grant to support research on firearm injuries and deaths.

Guns, lead levels, and suicides linked in Massachusetts study

In Massachusetts towns with more guns, there are more suicides—and blood lead levels in a community appear to play a role in the link, according to a new study from Harvard Chan School.

Karestan Koenen
Professor of Psychiatric Epidemiology

"We are gathering data from victims as soon as possible after the violent event and following people over time to understand the whole picture of what happens after a trauma. One of the goals is early diagnosis and prevention—because if we identify people early, intensive psychotherapy can prevent full-blown disease."
Read more about the Frontiers
Satchit Balsari
Research Fellow in the Harvard FXB Center for Health and Human Rights

"It’s mind-boggling to think about the possibilities, over the next four or five decades, with cloud computing and mobile devices."
Read more about the Frontiers
Andrea Roberts
Research Scientist in the Department of Environmental Health

"I would love to see a common understanding—across the political spectrum—that childhood is a highly vulnerable period over which society has a huge influence."
Read more about the Frontiers