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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