“Nobody is really built for the streets”

Gang members is often seen as a threat to the society due to their actions in environments. Gang violence is a big thing in the UK especially in the capital of London. Young people with poor mental health are more at risk of being drawn into gangs.  This can potentially damage a young person’s mental health through being exposed to violence and trauma, among other things. We are going to be discussing whether gang members are patients that need help or just a threat to society?

Different reasons why people join gangs:

To feel accepted or a sense of belonging

For a sense of identity.

Because siblings, family members or partners are gang members.

For status amongst peers and others

“Hearing somebody take their last breath is a sound that never leaves you.”

Gang members constantly witness violence and trauma, makes them more susceptible to being diagnosed with PTSD. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder is caused by very stressful, frightening or distressing events.

The symptoms of post-traumatic stress could be:

Flashbacks

Nightmares

Angry outbursts

Insomnia

The word PTSD is mainly associated to people in the army or have been to war. This is because these people are constantly in combat which makes them more likely to being diagnosed with the disorder. Thankfully war veterans receive rehabilitation such as therapy and regular check-ups to help with trauma that they witness. Gang members experience similar situations.

Studies have found:

High levels of PTSD among young offenders, often linked to violent experiences, and that the more violence a young person is exposed to the greater their PTSD symptoms.

The first UK-based study of its kind, published in The Lancet Psychiatry, found 31% of young people had a traumatic experience during childhood.

One in four young people exposed to trauma met the criteria for PTSD.

Around 20% of people who experience trauma go to develop post traumatic stress disorder

I had the opportunity to interview an ex-gang member ‘Chubz’ from North London about his experience of being in a gang, and how it has affected him mentally. Interviewee identity must remain anonymous for the purpose of this interview.

“I started getting into gangs when I was 15,mainly influences was people from my area and growing up from where I grew up then that cant be good.  I had considered a group of people as family  and would partake in illegal activities with them. I’ve done a lot of things am not proud off, I’ve robbed people, been stabbed, watch friends die in front of me it’s a lot. Nobody is really built for the streets.” ‘Chubz’ quoted.

‘Chubz’ was involved in an altercation in 2012 when his friend was stabbed and killed in North London. I discussed this experience with him and he had quoted “…We got up after we got jumped next thing, I know one of my friends collapsed, he had holes in him from where he had been stabbed. Ambulance came we took him to the hospital he died on the way to the hospital. Its crazy like hearing somebody take their last breath is a sound that never leaves you.”

When asked about how he copes with this trauma he quoted “We all cope with things differently, sometimes I smoke some weed it makes me forget about my problems for time but it is not the best solution”

PTSD can also be seen as a gate-way for other for other problems such as depression, anxiety, drug misuse or alcohol misuse.

When asked about getting professional help ‘Chubz’ quoted that “…Yes, I do have flashbacks and nightmares up to this day. But I don’t want to be labelled as anything I am not crazy and I’ve seen people on medication and that’s not for me.”

Interviewing ‘Chubz’ helped gain an understanding of what it is like mentally for an ex-gang member.

One in four young people exposed to trauma met the criteria for PTSD.

“I don’t want to be labelled as a mental health patient I am not crazy”

The government is trying to tackle problems that occur in areas where there is gang violence. There was a scheme, set up by two doctors/ therapist in Camden, who meets gang members to talk to them.

Dr Grove (one of the therapist) said “the project has had a number of success stories including a 19-year-old who came to the project in March 2017 after leaving prison.”

“He was very suspicious of us but he began attending sessions regularly… he was quite aggressive and it took us time to figure out where this aggression was coming from,” Dr Grove said.

Eventually the young man began to speak to a project worker who engaged with him at every session.”

Projects like this make an impact today and should not just be in Camden but across the UK. Tackling gang members mental health is an opportunity of decreasing gang violence.

AFTV is a YouTube channel dedicated to the coverage of all things Arsenal, particularly the club’s supporters. Founder/presenter of AFTV Robbie Lyle built a platform by interviewing fans after each game starting in in 2012.

The platform has got a staggering 1m subscribers on YouTube and has provided a platform for many different fans to express opinions on the game. Also providing an opportunity for some people to be iconic personalities which are popular on social media.

However, AFTV success does come with some backlash with mainstream channels such as TalkSport claiming it ‘profits from the club’s failures. Also, they believe that the personalities on the platform allegedly have controversial opinions and rants on the channel for more publicity.

AFTV Robbie lyle and TalkSport presenters Simon Jordan and Jim White came to a heated debate during an interview with Talksport going against fan channels. Both sides made some valid points alongside some questionable ones.

Click here for the debate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bp3pGkSvs1k

“You’re hypocrites” Words from Robbie lyle when arguing against the business model that talkSport has. TalkSport share some similarities with Fan channels like AFTV.

For example, in talkSport fans can call after a game or an event to give their opinion on what has gone by. AFTV also does something similar whereas they interview fans face to face after the game to gain their input.

After losing games fans may get heated and act emotional after games on both platforms, they will then share their interviews onto their platform, and some go viral.

The former crystal palace owner argues that the AFTV’s brand has grown with the decline Arsenal FC.

Jordan said “If you look at the trend of your business which had 350,000 subscribers in 2017 – watch the decline of arsenal from 2017 and watch the ascent of your viewership. Arsenal have gone down; the divisiveness has gone up and so have your numbers”

During Arsenal decline in 2017 AFTV views have gone up and profited more during the decline of the club..

“Its time to go” said Claude when describing Arsenal former manager Unai Emery during the 2-2 draw againt Crystal Palace FC.

It was clear Jim White was in defence of his colleague Simon during the debate agreeing with most comments that Simon had made.

“Were disruptors in the business” said Robbie Lyle

“People identify with fan channels because it is the team they support and the relatability that the audience have with the fans” said by Youtuber Deluded Gooner.

It makes you believe that fan channels is becoming the new culture.

Since starting AFTV in 2012 it has over 1m subscribers and is the biggest fan channel in the world interviewing past and current players including Kevin Campbell, Ian Wright and Thierry Henry.

AFTV have been the catalyst for different fan channels such as ‘Fulltime devils’, ‘Cheeky sport’ and ‘Redman TV’.

Fulltime devils

Fan channel for Manchester United fans that brings out match previews, post-match reaction and reviews. This fan channel has over 500,000 subscribers on Youtube.

Redman TV

‘The Redmen TV is Uncensored LFC Television. Stats, Sketches, Analysis, Features, Interviews and Real Fan Opinions broadcasting after every Liverpool game.’ This fan channel has over 400,000 subscribers.

The rise of football fan channels has become a popular outlet for fans nowadays should commercial media platforms be worried?

AFTV Regulars

AFTV feature a number of regulars on the platform, which has become iconic personalities which are popular on social media.

Troopz is an AFTV regular who also previews on different shows regarding football such as ‘Word on the curb’. Troopz is now a well-established personality on social media that has his own YouTube channel with over 108,000 subscribers.

Ty is well known constantly defended Wenger during his time as manager despite majority of fans going against him.  He regularly features on AFTV in a show to talk about Arsenal called ‘ Claude&Ty show’.

DT is known for his controversial rants during times Arsenal takes a loss and is one of the most viewed on the platform. He also has his own channel with over 203,000 subscribers

Lee Judges is known for his passionate opinions on the club and has featured on AFTV since the start. Judges now has a segment for the platform featuring ex-footballer Kevin Campbell called  “The Kevin Campbell show”.

AFTV have a broad and diverse group of regulars that feature on the show and allowing them to build a platform for themselves on social media.

Is the Criticism justified?

Overall, AFTV has made a huge impact on social media and has given a platform for fans to express their opinion. AFTV is a platform that has been supported by many ex football players and is one of the bigest fan channels in the world. However it still tends to receive criticism that it is “money venture” and “capitalises of its teams downfall”.

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