BULLYING IS MEAN!

Being a child is not supposed to be hard. Life as a child is supposed to be a time of learning experiences and just having fun. The last thing you expect as a parent is for your child to die. Just last week, a 5th grader in South Carolina, died after being in a fight with a student that was bullying her.  In Kentucky, a 10 year old boy, who was already dealing with a medical condition which required a colostomy bag, committed suicide after constant bullying from classmates in January.

In both of these cases, the schools had been notified about the bullying but apparently nothing was done to address it. Whether it is done in person or online, bullying can have long-lasting effects on the victims. But what is bullying? Bullying is being mean to another kid over and over again.

Bullying often includes:

-Teasing

-Talking about hurting someone

-Spreading rumors

-Leaving kids out on purpose

-Attacking someone by hitting them or yelling at them

Bullying prevention begins in the home. Children must be taught what bullying is and that it is not appropriate to bully others. Schools must have policies in place to address bullying. Parents must speak to their kids and explain to them that they can tell an adult if they are being bullied. The communication lines must be kept open for kids and adults so they can feel safe talking to them. Parents: if your child is bullied at school, go there and ensure that the incident is documented and addressed. Don’t let anyone at the school just give you “lip service” about the issue. For the sake of your kids and other kids at school, please don’t let bullying continue.

You Are Not Alone!

Suicide Prevention and Awareness

It seem as if the tragedies just keep piling up. Over the weekend, a student at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High school committed suicide. And last week, we were shocked by the suicide by a former student at MSD High School. The former student had a friend who was among the 17 people killed last year in the mass shooting and apparently had been living with survivor’s guilt. Suicide seems to follow tragedies like this. Today, we hear that the father of a mass-shooting victim at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012 took his life.

Suicide does not solve the problem or ease the pain. It merely passes it on to others. Suicide does not discriminate and affects people from all walks of life. Race, gender, and socioeconomic status are factors but one is not more important than the other. Even with suicides by celebrities or people that we consider successful, no one is immune to the pain caused by suicide.

There are some warning signs to look for in someone who may be thinking about suicide. The person my exhibit one or more of these symptoms:

- Planning or talking about suicide or hurting themselves

- Mood swings that are erratic and expressing anger or rage

- Withdrawing from family and friends through isolation

- Anxiety, panic attacks, delusions

- Sleep patterns that are erratic

- Expressions that they are trapped and have no purpose in life

- Feeling like they can’t find a way out of their current situation

If you have a loved one or know of someone who you think is contemplating suicide, there are actions you can take to help them:

- Ask them if they are thinking about killing themselves: Bringing the subject out into the open is the fastest way. Seek professional help as soon as you are able.

- Keep them safe: Remove all sharp objects or any items associated with how they planned to do it (if they tell you).

- Actively listen: Look at the person while they are speaking, and repeat back what they said so they know you were listening.

- Help them connect with support systems: Assist them by connecting them with a trained counselor on the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. Or have text the Crisis Text Line on 741741

- Conduct follow up with them: Periodically check in on that person even after the crisis has passed; if not in person, then by phone or text.

Parents Beware!

Mom...Dad... have you seen this on the Internet? Do your children know about it? Ask them if they have seen this image or heard of the "Momo Challenge". The Momo Challenge has been described as a urban legend which is currently circulating around the internet. It started back in July 2018 when it was spotted on Youtube. Apparently, anonymous pranksters target other people to perform "challenges" which include even attempting suicide. Threats and cyberbullying are said to occur to those who refuse to perform the challenges. Although the "Momo challenge" has not actually resulted in any injuries or deaths, parents are cautioned to constantly monitor their children's internet use. Always know what they are looking at or who they are talking to. The World Wide Web has brought many things from the world into our homes at the click of a button. But beware of the dangers. Not everything that is on the Internet is safe for you or your children.