The APA-MTV collaboration will reach out to youth audiences nationwide in several ways:

• a 30-minute MTV special on youth and violence that aired several times during the month of April 1999;
• nationwide presentations by psychologists to youth on the topic of violence;
• and a Warning Signs guide on violence prevention, which is available on-line and by calling a toll-free number

MTV officials expressed eagerness to work with APA because of the expertise psychologists bring on violent behavior and how to address it. "If we can help one young person in trouble, this campaign will be a success," said MTV President Judy McGrath.

APA began talking with MTV about an antiviolence campaign last year in the wake of the school shootings in Jonesboro, Ark., Springfield, Ore., and West Paducah, Ky. MTV's initiative includes the U.S. Department of Justice, the U.S. Department of Education and the National Endowment for the Arts as governmental partners.

APA and MTV have collaborated on the Warning Signs guide, which is aimed at teenagers and young adults and includes information about what normal anger is, the warning signs of potentially violent behavior and what to do when individuals recognize these signs in themselves or their peers.

The Warning Signs special, which MTV produced in collaboration with APA, explores the thoughts, opinions and fears of teenagers and young adults about the issue of violence.

To foster more discussion about violence among youth, APA is working with its national public education campaign network of psychologists to conduct community outreach events following the show's airing. Special outreach kits are available to psychologists to help them plan and promote Warning Signs forums with youth in local communities. The kits contain information and sample materials for carrying out presentations to youth, alerting media and conducting other grassroots activities. Psychologists are being encouraged to work with local schools, community youth groups and MTV's cable affiliates when organizing the youth forums.

For more information or to receive an outreach kit, contact APA's Campaign Service Bureau at 1-877-274-8787 x135.

The APA-MTV collabration is part of MTV's Fight for Your Rights: Take a Stand Against Violence Campaign. More info about Fight For Your Rights can be found at FightForYourRights.mtv.com

APA has additional information on family, work and  physical and psychological health issues at its on-line Consumer Help Center, helping.apa.org. Additional information about children and violence can be found at APA's web site, www.apa.org/concept/children.html#violence.