October is National Bullying Awareness Month and during this time we should all acknowledge and bring awareness to the subject of bullying especially because of the devasting and ongoing negative impact that is has not only amongst our youth, but in our society as a whole. Bullying is an extremely serious matter that continues to disrupt the lives of our children. Many children suffer in silence, harboring inner pain that stemmed from being bullied. Most children won’t tell anyone about the negative experiences that they have with other children which will ultimately lead them to finding harmful ways to release their suppressed, dark emotions. We have seen on countless occasions various acts of violence within our schools that leave parents questioning if schools are still considered the safe haven for their children that they once were. And with pediatric suicide on the rise, it’s even more paramount that the subject of bullying is brought to the forefront.
Statistics researched by the American Society for the Positive Care of Children showed that 70.6% of young people said that they have been bulled in their schools. 70.4% of school staff have witnessed bullying and 62% have witnessed bullying two or more times a week or more. Their research also showed that when bystanders intervene, the bullying stops within 10 seconds 57% of the time.
The worst possible result from being bullied is when a child takes their own life because they predict that the bullying will never end. Research from the Children’s Hospital Association showed that suicide and self-injury have become the most common mental health conditions seen in the children hospitals’ emergency departments. Data from the Children’s Hospital Association’s Pediatric Health Information showed that between 2016 and 2022, children’s hospitals saw a 166% increase in emergency department visits for suicide attempts and self-injury amongst children from ages 5-18. Think for a moment how low a child must feel to build enough courage to not only formulate a plan, but to take action, ensuring that the self-harm they inflict will end in death.
Our goal as a community should always be to make certain that a child feels safe in any environment. Will every day in a child’s life be easy? No. Will there be lessons to learn? Absolutely. However, the lessons should never make a child feel unsafe or cause them to be harmed physically or emotionally. We can all help put a stop to bullying by constantly talking to our children. Ask them how they feel, ask them if anyone is bothering them, and make sure they know that they can always tell someone if they ever feel afraid. We also want to make certain that our own children are not bullying other children. Pay close attention to your child’s behavior when they are at home. Do they seem angry often, do they play well with their siblings, do they show signs of defiance, are they disrespectful towards you or other adults? Remember a small issue will eventually turn into a big issue if not addressed immediately. Correction starts within the home first, so parents please do your diligence in addressing your child’s behavior. If you feel that your child’s behavior has become unmanageable, seek help. It takes a village to raise a child and there are plenty of resources available to assist in areas such as behavior management. Contact your local child therapist and set an appointment to address any behavioral concerns you may have. You can also contact the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles as they have various resources and programs that can assist with mental health and bullying. Also, be advised that a child becomes a bully because they are hurting inside, and the easiest outlet is to bully another child. So again, communicate with your child, spend time with them, monitor what they watch on television and on social media. Remind them of how special they are and assure them that their feelings matter. Above all, remind your child that they are loved!
Latrice Slaughter is a self-published author, community activist, and children’s advocate for mental health. She’s written 4 children’s books that all promote self-love with the intention of laying the foundation to ensure that children grow into healthy, stable minded adults. Having 10 years’ experience as a writer, she has made it her mission to research and bring awareness to mental health issues within our youth and community.
