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.

Recent Stories

There are many practical ways to reduce gun deaths

No single strategy is likely to significantly reduce gun deaths in the U.S.—but lots of strategies working together could help, according to Harvard Chan School’s David Hemenway.

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.