CONTACT
Julie Naughton, Office of Communications, (402) 471-1695 (office); (402) 405-7202 (cell);
julie.naughton@nebraska.gov
Lincoln – October is Bullying Awareness Month and offers the opportunity to discuss this all-too-common issue, as well as to transform into a society that recognizes that bullying must be addressed through education and support.
Bullying is repetitive, unwanted, aggressive behavior that involves a real or perceived power imbalance, both for children and adults. This can take the form of making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, or excluding someone from a group on purpose. Bullying can also take place through technology, known as cyberbullying. Examples of cyberbullying include mean text messages or emails, rumors sent by email or posted on social networking sites, and embarrassing pictures, videos, websites, or fake profiles.
The National Bullying Prevention Center notes that more than one in five students will experience bullying this year. In some cases, bullying can lead to devastating consequences, such as school shootings and suicide. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among 15- to 24-year olds. Fifteen percent of high school students seriously considered suicide in the previous 12 months, and 7% reported making at least one suicide attempt in the previous year, according the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Suggestions from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for dealing with bullying in schools include:
- Encourage kids to speak to a trusted adult if they are bullied or see others being bullied. The adult can give comfort, support, and advice, even if they can't solve the problem directly. Encourage the child to report bullying if it happens.
- Talk about how to stand up to kids who bully. Give tips, like using humor and saying “stop" directly and confidently. Talk about what to do if those actions don't work, like walking away
- Talk about strategies for staying safe, such as staying near adults or groups of other kids.
- Urge them to help kids who are bullied by showing kindness or getting help.
- Listen and focus on the child. Learn what's been going on and show you want to help.
- Assure the child that bullying is not their fault.
- Know that kids who are bullied may struggle with talking about it. Consider referring them to a school counselor, psychologist, or other mental health service.
- Give advice about what to do. This may involve role-playing and thinking through how the child might react if the bullying occurs again.
- Work together to resolve the situation and protect the bullied child. The child, parents, and school or organization may all have valuable input. School or other officials can act as mediators between parents when bullying arises, to be sure the matter is dealt with properly.
- Ask the child being bullied what can be done to make him or her feel safe. Remember that changes to routine should be minimized. He or she is not at fault and should not be singled out.
- Never tell the child to ignore the bullying.
- Do not blame the child for being bullied. Even if he or she provoked the bullying, no one deserves to be bullied.
Parents can also help their children to develop resiliency, with these tips from the CDC:
- Set family goals and have children play an important role in working towards them.
- When your child is defensive or aggressive, help them reflect on the situation to understand what is causing their behavior. Children may lack the skills to handle what's happening. They may need support. Help them build the skills they lack so that they can respond in better ways in the future.
- Practice role playing how to handle different problems. This helps children develop ways of handling challenges.
- Model an attitude of grit and optimism in the face of family challenges.
- Work on solving problems together.
- Teach your child how to manage stress. Participating in wellness activities together, like exercise or healthy cooking, can be helpful.
- Find someone (like a tutor, mentor, or school counselor) to help your child improve specific skills.
- Volunteer together to help others in need.
- Talk to your child about past challenges and how they helped you grow.
- Help your child find practical solutions to problems as they come up.
- With parent and caregiver support, a child's resilience can develop and help them cope when they are faced with difficult experiences, like bullying.
Need to talk or get immediate help in a crisis?
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for English, 1-888-628-9454 para Español.
- Nebraska Family Helpline, (888) 866-8660. They can engage Crisis Response Teams
- Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
- Rural Response Hotline, (800) 464-0258
- Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990 (oprime dos para Español), or text TalkWithUs for English or llámanos para español to 66746.
- National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 or text LOVEIS to 22522
- National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-4AChild (1-800-422-4453) or text 1-800-422-4453
- National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
- The Eldercare Locator: 1-800-677-1116