#SocialInnovation

Chicago’s rapidly evolving approach to youth violence prevention—combining cognitive behavioral therapy with intensive mentoring—has shown remarkable success in reducing arrests and reshaping young lives, according to recent findings that are capturing international attention. A pioneering programme called “Choose to Change,” developed on the city’s West Side, not only addresses some of the root causes of violence among at-risk youth, but offers hints at how similar blended approaches could one day help address chronic social issues in Thai communities facing rising rates of youth crime and trauma.

A recent article in Psychology Today challenges widespread assumptions about what it means to be “neurotypical,” sparking renewed conversation about diversity, inclusion, and the way Thai society identifies and supports individuals with different neurological profiles. The piece, written by a clinical psychology expert, questions the utility of binary labels like “neurotypical” and “neurodivergent,” and urges for a broader understanding of human experience centered on individual control, preferences, and agency (Psychology Today).