Survival Mode
Fault Lines examines the psychological toll of gun violence on children growing up in Chicago’s most dangerous and neglected communities
‘Survival Mode’
In 2015, there were nearly 3,000 people shot in Chicago. Much of the violence happens in poor residential neighborhoods, where thousands of children are growing up without a baseline of safety.
Early exposure to trauma and chronic stress can have severe and lasting mental and physical health consequences. Many children impacted by violence become hyper-vigilant and operate in constant “survival mode,” unable to let their guard down. If left unaddressed, the psychological shock can alter the way they learn and function—and increase the risk they will be victimized again or even perpetrate violence themselves in the future.
Fault Lines travels to Chicago to meet children and teenagers who are exposed to ongoing violence—including a few recovering from gunshot injuries and reckoning with deeper psychological wounds—to see how young people cope with living in an urban war zone.
CREDITS:
Executive Producer: Mathieu Skene, Senior Producer: Reem Akkad @reemakkad, Hanaan Sarhan @hanaansarhan, Correspondent: Anjali Kamat @anjucomet, Producer: Lauren Rosenfeld @lollymr, Director of Photography: Joel Van Haren @joelvanharen, Editor: Adrienne Haspel @adihaspel, Production Manager: Dana Merwin @dana_merwin, Digital Producer: Nikhil Swaminathan @sw4mi, Production Assistance: Nesa Azimi @nesaazimi, Malak Habbak
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