Post on 17-Dec-2015
BullyingFlorence Stevens MPH
Agenda What is bullying Characteristics of victims and bullies Effects of Bullying The Role of the Pediatrician in
Connected Kids Your Role as Community Leaders
http://youtu.be/6lL9-JRImMI
How big of a problem? The CDC found between 20-56% of young people
are involved in bullying annually.
In a classroom of 30 students, between 6 and 17 students are involved in bullying as the victim, the bully or both.
What is bullying? Bullying is a form of aggressive
behavior in which someone intentionally and repeatedly causes another person injury or discomfort
Sometimes children argue with each other or make bad choices in their behavior- that is not bullying
American Psychological Association
What is bullying?
Bullying can include:• Teasing• Threats of harm• Spreading rumors• Purposefully excluding peers
from activities• Attacking physically or verbally
Cyberbullying Bullying with electronic means such as
computers, cell phones, social media etc Examples:
o Spreading rumors on twitter or text messages
o Posting embarrassing images or information on the internet
Cyberbullying can be done 24 hrs a day, shared with a large audience, and can be anonymous.
Risk Factors Age Ethnic, cultural, religious minority Poor social skills Sexual minority Obesity Health Conditions Autism and learning disabilities
o Peer shunning is commono 94% had experienced peer victimization o 75% had been hit by peers
How likely are children and youth to bully others?
Graph at stop bullying.gov
Differences in the Types of Bullying Experienced by Boys and Girls (NCES, 2011)
More facts about bullies
Both boys and girls can be bullies.o Boys more likely to engage in physical
bullying.o Girls more likely to engage in social /
verbal bullying. Bullying is not confined
to classrooms, but also on the playground, and in the neighborhood while going between school and home
Children who are bullied
Common characteristics of children who are bullied
Perceived as different from peers Perceived as weak or unable to defend
themselves Are less popular than others Do not get along well with others Specific groups of children may be targets,
including obese or overweight, LGBT youth and children with disabilities or special health needs
Effects of being bullied Depression Anxiety Headaches and stomachaches Sleeping problems Social withdrawal Suicidal ideation
Academic Consequences of Bullying
Children and youth who are bullied are more likely to:
– Want to avoid school
– Have lower academic achievement
Several studies suggest that children’s experiences of being rejected by peers or bullied in other ways may lead to lowered academic achievement
Bullying and Risk of Suicide
Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death for youth 10-17 in the US
Bullied children & youth are more likely than non-bullied peers to have: Depressive symptoms Harm themselves High levels of suicidal thoughts Attempted suicide
(WISQARS CDC)
Children who bully
Concern for children and youth who bully
Common characteristics of children who bully
Aggressive, easily frustrated, Have less parental involvement or issues at home, Think badly of others, Have difficulty following rules, View violence in a positive way, Have friends who bully others.
Concern for Children and Youth who Bully
Children and youth who bully others are more likely than their peers to: Exhibit delinquent behaviors i.e. get into fights, vandalize
property Dislike school, drop out of school Drink alcohol and smoke Bring weapons to school Think of suicide and attempt suicide Engage in early sexual activity Have criminal convictions and traffic citations as adults Be abusive toward their romantic partners, spouses, or
children as adults
American Academy of Pediatrics
The Role of the Pediatrician
Role of the pediatrician
Anticipatory guidance – prevention of bullying
Identify children at risk Help patients create a safety plan Refer to mental health and
community resources when necessary
Follow up
Connected Kids
Building Blocks
Community Connection
s
Physical Safety
Connected Kids centers on 4 overlapping themes of anticipatory
guidance
Child-Centere
d
Parent-Centered
Assessment Key message: “You aren’t alone,
it’s not your fault, and I can help.”
Asking the Right Questionso Have you been in any pushing or shoving
fights? o What do you usually do to avoid getting
into a fight?o Are you afraid of being hurt by any other
children? o Do you feel bullied by other children?o If you see other children in fights or
being bullied, what do you do?
Kids who are bullied
These children may need help learning how to respond to bullying.
o “Let’s talk about what you can do and say if this happens again.”
o Teach them how to:- Look the bully in the eye.- Stand tall and stay calm in a different situation.- Walk away.
o Teach them how to say in a firm voice: - “I don’t like what you are doing.”- “Please do not talk to me like that.”- “Why would you say that?”
Kids who bullyOften these students require support to change their behavior Be a positive role model. Use effective, nonphysical discipline, such as loss of
privileges. Develop practical solutions with others. Ask for help. If you find it difficult to change the
behavior, reach out to a professional, like a teacher, counselor or your child’s pediatrician.
How to find Connected Kids
American Academy of Pediatrics (www.aap.org) Patient Education online (patiented.aap.org ) Pediatric Care Online (www.pediatriccareonline.org) HealthyChildren.org
The Role of Community Leaders
The Role of Community Leaders
Talk to kids about bullying Train other leaders to prevent
bullying Partner together
o Schools, mental health specialists, law enforcement officers, businesses, faith-based organizations, service groups
Build a strategy Know where to get help
Universal Questions to Elicit Bullying
For parents:o Has your child been bullied or
hit by others?o Has your child demonstrated
bullying or aggression toward others?
From Bright Futures
For children:o Do you ever feel afraid to
go to school? Why?o Do other kids ever bully you
at school, in your neighborhood, or online?
o What do you do if you see other kids being bullied?
o Who can you go to for help if you or someone you know is being bullied?
From www.stopbullying.gov
Warning Signs a child is being bullied
Unexplainable injuries Lost or destroyed clothing, books, electronics Frequent headaches, stomach aches Changes in eating habits Difficulty sleeping or frequent nightmares Declining grades Sudden loss of friends Self-destructive behaviors such as running away
from home, harming themselves, or talking about suicide
Signs a child is bullying others
Kids may be bullying others if they: Get into physical or verbal fights Have friends who bully others Are increasingly aggressive Get sent to the principal’s office or to detention
frequently Have unexplained extra money or new belongings Blame others for their problems Are competitive and worry about their reputation
or popularity
Key points in responding to bullying
Don’t blame the child for being bullied Don’t encourage children to fight back Telling the child to ignore the bullying may
cause it to escalate Bystanders may also be affected by
bullying in that they don’t often know how to respond
When does a child need outside help?
A mental health professional may be needed if:o The child is experiencing severe mental health
consequences (depression, anxiety, suicidality)o The child has particular difficulty in discussing
the bullyingo The child is experiencing severe impairment in
daily activities
Likelihood of Reporting 50-75% of children and youth do not tell school personnel,
are a bit more likely to tell parents Why do kids keep silent?
• Negative messages about “tattling” or “snitching”• Gender stereotypes (boys are more reluctant)• Worried about retaliation• Lack of confidence in adult’s
actions• Feel ashamed or powerless
Stopbullying.gov
Provide Training in Bullying Prevention
Adults must understand: o the nature of bullyingo its effects o how to prevent bullyingo effective policies and rules o the skills to:
- Stop bullying on the spot
- Follow up routinely with youth involved in bullying and, if warranted, with their parents
Focus on the Social Climate
Bullying prevention requires changes in social climates
Changes in attitudes, norms, and behaviors takes time and commitment
Creating safe and caring places for youth involves a comprehensive effort on the part of everyone
Coordinate and Integrate Prevention Efforts
Bullying prevention should be coordinated and integrated with other efforts o School groups, such as safety committees
represent the entire staff, parents, community volunteers, and youth leaders
o Community groups may include representatives from many disciplines and partnering agencies
Set Policies and Rules Consider establishing and enforcing rules and
policies that address bullying
Rules should apply to all children, set standards
for expected positive behavior
Follow up with positive and negative consequences
Continue Efforts Over Time and Renew Community Interests
Bullying prevention should have no “end date”
Communities need to continually assess prevention needs and outcomes, revise strategies and programs, and champion the benefits in children’s lives and to the community
A Variety of Laws in the U.S. Address Bullying
Federal Laws and Bullying and Harassment
Schools that receive federal funding must address discrimination based on a number of different personal characteristics
Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 prohibits discrimination based on race, color, or national origin
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
prohibits discrimination based on sex Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title
II of the ADA (1990) prohibits discrimination based on
disability
National Resources Futures Without Violence www.futureswithoutviolence.org
It Gets Better Project- itgetsbetter.org
Teen web site about dealing with cyberbullying- www.thatsnotcool.com
Big Brother/Big Sister www.bbbs.org
Three Bold Steps for School Community Change: A Toolkit for Community Leaders- www.stopbullying.gov
Striving to Reduce Youth Violence Everywhere: Community Action Planning
ResourcesNational Suicide Prevention Lifeline
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