Bullying is an age old problem, I don’t think there has ever been a time when kids have not bullied or been bullied. For some it can be detrimental, even life threatening and today there are many different types of bullying. Kids are not only bullied by their peers but sadly also by adults. They are victims and many do not have the coping skills to deal with these situations in a healthy way. Why do we continue to tolerate it?
Listed here are resources that address the bullying and teen suicide issues of today. Bullying was also recently highlighted on The Oprah Winfrey Show: The Truth About Bullying. Every day in our schools and communities, children are teased, threatened, or tormented by bullies. To help care for our youth, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMSHA) developed webpages and resources (print and online) that can serve as useful tools:
- About Bullying
- Systems of Care
- National Strategy for Suicide Prevention
- National Suicide Prevention Initiative
- BULLYING- at school and online
These sites offer everyone from parents, caregivers, to educators, the opportunity to know the facts, recognize signs and symptoms, and access easy to read tips on how to talk to our teens about mental health. These resources will help us to build healthier, safer environments and support anti-bullying initiatives.
Can you imagine if you went to work and feared your co-workers? It is not right that our youth attend schools where they feel unsafe or inadequate and fear retaliation. Here is one youth’s tragic story :
Ryan’s parents say kids started teasing him in fifth grade. “When Ryan came to me and said he was being picked on, my initial response was: ‘It’s just words. You need to just ignore him,’” says his dad, John.
Read Ryan’s fatal story, sadly he is one of many
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
how sad, in this modern times wher people talk about freedom and humanity there are still evil devils creeping in the society bulling weak and helpless kids, we should take a great stand against it and help our kids with it rather than just ignoring it.
That is such a tragic story but so necessary to wake us up, to show us the pressures and the heartache that this generation of teens/kids go through. Thank you for sharing that. It made my day. We have got to be aware of our kids online ventures. Or you find out too late, just like Ryan’s story.
Also, it is too sad that some kids don’t know the harm or extent of their words and actions until it is also too late. It’s encouraging to see John spend his time teaching and guiding students using this story. This story is real and needs to be heard by all, even those that aren’t affected by it yet.
Once again, thank you and keep em comin’