Abstract
Experiencing violence - verbal, physical, sexual - particularly during childhood, has short, medium and long-term effects on the psychological make-up of individuals, as well as on their risk of psychiatric disorders and deteriorating physical health. But more broadly, abuse and neglect within families, as well as systemic violence - armed conflict, poverty, discrimination - have consequences in terms of the mental health of individuals and populations as a whole. How common are various forms of violence ? What are their determinants, and how can they be prevented ? What are their consequences in terms of mental health and addictions ?
The lecture will be followed by a seminar focusing specifically on issues relating to sexual violence - its prevalence, the factors associated with it, the wider context in which it occurs, and ways of curbing it and limiting the psychological impacts that may be associated with it.
