Happy Camp Community Action, Inc.
  • Home
  • Slater Fire LTRG
  • About
  • What We Do
    • Summer Camps >
      • HC Summer Day Camp
    • Education, Outreach & Awareness >
      • First 5 Programming
    • Community Food Programs
    • Core Services
  • News
  • Employment
  • Contact
  • Donate!
  • Home
  • Slater Fire LTRG
  • About
  • What We Do
    • Summer Camps >
      • HC Summer Day Camp
    • Education, Outreach & Awareness >
      • First 5 Programming
    • Community Food Programs
    • Core Services
  • News
  • Employment
  • Contact
  • Donate!

Bullying: Tips for Parents

4/10/2018

1 Comment

 
Picture
Recent incidents of school violence demonstrate that bullying can have tragic consequences for individuals, families, schools and entire communities.  Bullying is painful, lasting and related to low self-esteem, suicidal thoughts, anger, and other mental and physical health problems.  Because of the increased risk of suicide associated with bullying--for victims and perpetrators alike--open dialogue and support are crucial in ensuring safety for our children and teenagers.
 
Recognize It
Bullying is aggressive behavior. It occurs when a child is targeted by one or more youth with repeated negative actions over a period of time. These are intentional attempts to cause discomfort or injury and can include name-calling, obscene gesturing, malicious teasing, exclusion, threats, rumors, physical hitting, kicking, pushing and choking. Cyber-bullying is also a real and growing problem today.  Make no mistake: bullying of any kind is a form of violence that should not be tolerated.
 
See the Scope of the Problem
  • The Journal of the American Medical Association reports that one-third of U.S. students experience bullying, either as a target or a perpetrator.
  • More than 70 percent of teachers and students have witnessed bullying in their schools. [1]
  • 28 percent of students, in 6th through 12th grade, report being bullied. [2]
  • Only a small percentage of children who are bullied, report it.  The reason is often because they do not believe adults will help them.  [3]
 
Spot the Bullies
  • Both boys and girls bully. Boys bully more often and are more likely to experience physical bullying. Girls are more likely to experience emotional bullying and sexual harassment.
  • Bullies usually pick on others out of frustration with their own lives. They target other children because they need a victim who is weaker than them.
  • While they may feel uneasy about it, many children tease their peers simply to go along with the crowd.
  • Bullying is linked to depression. [4] Bullies are more likely to have social influence and be overly concerned with popularity.  They are also more like to have low self-esteem, be easily pressured by others, be less able to identify with the feelings of others, view violence in a positive way, and have difficulty in following rules. [5]

Know Their Targets
  • Those who are seen as being different from their peers or are weak, depressed, less popular, or unable to get along with peers are more likely to become victims of bullying. [6]
  • Females in high school (22 percent) are twice as likely as male high school students (11 percent) to report being cyberbullied.  They are also more likely to report being bullied on school property (22 percent to 18 percent). [7]
  • LGBTQ youth are at special risk of being bullied; up to 85 percent report having been verbally harassed, and 40 percent physically assaulted. [8]

Take Steps to Stop It Checklist
  • Start early. Parent/child talks are essential. Teach kids to respect others before they start school and continue to talk about this topic on an ongoing basis. Even small acts of teasing should be stopped in their tracks. Don’t fail to correct this kind of behavior due to a child’s young age. This is exactly when to stop it.
  • Teach your children how to be assertive. Encourage your children to express their feelings clearly, say no when they feel uncomfortable or pressured, stand up for themselves without fighting and walk away in dangerous situations.
  • Stop bullying when you see it. Adults who remain silent when bullying occurs are encouraging it and making it worse.
  • Listen and support children who speak up. Telling an adult about bullying is not easy for children.  If a child comes to you seeking assistance with bullying, spend time listening to them and provide affirmation and support before taking actions.  Read through and discuss our Bullying Checklist with your child as a resource.
  • Recognize the signs of depression.  Youth who experience persistent bullying can develop signs of depression like sadness, isolation, poor concentration and sleeping problems. These symptoms can affect their relationships and school performance.  Many children do not recognize or speak up about their emotional needs. Make sure to reach out and get them help when you see these signs.
  • Tell your children to take action when they see bullying behavior. Tell them to speak out against the bully and inform a teacher if the behavior doesn’t stop. Bullying continues only when we allow it to.
  • Communicate clear policies and consequences. Bullying is less likely in schools where adults are involved and firm about stopping bullying behaviors. Send out a clear message at your school that bullying will have negative consequences.
  • Team up. Work with your PTA or local MHA affiliate to make sure that schools treat bullying as violence. Help them develop programs to prevent bullying and promote safe school environments.

Other Resources
You can find more helpful information about bullying at http://www.stopbullying.gov/.
Check out this online Guide to Bullying and Cyberbullying.

​References
[1] Bradshaw, C.P., Sawyer, A.L., & O’Brennan, L.M. (2007). Bullying and peer victimization at school: Perceptual differences between students and school staff. School Psychology Review, 36 (3), 361-382.
[2] National Center for Education Statistics and Bureau of Justice Statistics, School Crime Supplement , 2008–2009
[3] http://www.education.com/reference/article/why-kids-do-not-report-bullying/, 2009
[4] http://www.bullyingstatistics.org/content/bullying-and-depression.html
[5] http://www.stopbullying.gov/at-risk/factors/index.html#morelikely, 2014
[6] http://www.stopbullying.gov/at-risk/factors/index.html
[7] http://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/pdf/yv-datasheet-a.pdf, 2011 data
[8] http://www.stopbullying.gov/at-risk/groups/lgbt/white_house_conference_materials.pdf
© © Copyright Mental Health America, 4/10/2018

If you are in need of mental health support stop by the Community Center, we are located at 38 Park Way in Happy Camp. We are open Tuesday-Thursday from 9am-4pm, closed for lunch from 12pm-1pm. The Community Center contracts with Siskiyou County Behavioral Health and we can refer you to their services.
 
For the 24 Hour Mental Health Crisis Line/ Access Line, Toll Free: 1-800-842-8979
 
For this Article and more information visit: ​www.mentalhealthamerica.net/bullying-tips-parents© Copyright Mental Health AmericaCopyright Mental Health America
 Americaental Health America
1 Comment
Tex Hooper link
1/11/2021 03:58:10 pm

Your tip about adults staying quiet and making it worse is great. My kid has been getting bullied this whole school year. I really want to help him stand up for himself and not fall into a depression.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    About

    Happy Camp Community Action, Inc. is a Non-profit organization dedicated to economic development and youth programs in Happy Camp, California and surrounding communities.

    Archives

    January 2020
    December 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

SERVICES

Community Programs
Youth Programs

Company

About
The Company
Supporters

Support

Contact
Donate
Volunteer
© COPYRIGHT 2016. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Picture
Apart from the free survey software, we also have access to QuestionPro's free survey templates. We've
​found many of them useful and powerful to collect insights from various stakeholders of our organization​