Ruby V. Neville, MSW, LGSWSenior Public Health AdvisorTargeted Populations Branch

Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services AdministrationApril 18, 2012

Stop Bullying Now! Prevent Youth Violence

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Abuse of Power• Bullying is an intentional act. The child who bullies wants to

harm the victim; it is no accident.• Bullying involves repeated occurrences. Bullying is not

generally considered a random act nor a single incident. Rather, a child is repeatedly picked on by another child or is the target of harassment from a whole group of children. It is the repeated nature of bullying that causes anxiety and apprehension in victims, such that the anticipation of bullying becomes as problematic as the bullying itself.

http://www.education.com/special-edition/bullying/schoolbullying

What is Bullying?

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• Groups as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgendered (LGBT) youth, youth with disabilities. Have one or more of the following risk factors:

• Are perceived as different from their peers, such as being overweight or underweight, wearing glasses or different clothing, being new to a school, or being unable to afford what kids consider “cool”

• Are perceived as weak or unable to defend themselves• Are depressed, anxious, or have low self esteem• Are less popular than others and have few friends• Do not get along well with others, seen as annoying or

provoking, or antagonize others for attention.

Risk Factors Ref: http://www.stopbullying.gov/at-risk/index.html

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• Bullying is widespread in the United States. • In a 2009 nationwide survey, about 20% of high school

students reported being bullied on school property in the 12 months preceding the survey.

• During the 2007-2008 school year, 25% of public schools reported that bullying occurred among students on a daily or weekly basis. A higher percentage of middle schools reported daily or weekly occurrences of bullying compared to primary and high schools.

• In 2007, about 4% of 12- to 18-year-old students reported having been cyber bullied during the school year

Bullying is a Public Health Problem

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• In one State, half of all reported hate crimes were committed by juveniles-the most severe and violent of these were nearly always preceded by years of bullying.

• A groundbreaking report published in the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine in 2003 found that bullying at home or at school may lead to more aggressive behavior as the child gets older.

• The report identified bullying as a strong risk factor for possible violence in the future. Among those who pose the greatest risk for violence are bullies who often feel threatened themselves. http://pathwayscourses.samhsa.gov/bully/bully_1_pg5.htm

Consequences of Bullying

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• One study found that both children who bully and those who are bullied carry weapons to schools:

• About 50 percent of boys and 30 percent of girls who had bullied others in school reported carrying a weapon.

http://pathwayscourses.samhsa.gov/bully/bully_5_pg2.htm

Consequences of Bullying

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Educate All on the needs of youth that are bullied

Collaborate with other service providers to collectively address bullying

Reach out to include youth and their family members in efforts to curtail bullying and youth violence.

A Call for Action

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Site emphasizes action steps individuals can take to prevent and stop bullying in their schools and communities. It also features easy-to-use tools and resources for community leaders, young people and families, including:

• How to recognize the warning signs and when to take action• Tips to prevent bullying before it starts• How to implement strategies for intervention• Ways to share your community’s resources, policies or

strategies to prevent and address bullying• Information on bullying laws in your state

www.stopbullying.gov

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• The White House recently released a report, “Empowering Local Partners To Prevent Violent Extremism In The United States,” citing the Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative as one of three model programs that uses a community approach to prevent violence.(DoJ, Dept of Education)

Community-Based Safe Schools/Healthy Students

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This course examines the causes and effects of bullying, prevention techniques and programs, screening, treatment options, and legal/ethical issues surrounding bullying

• Module 1: School Bullying: What It Is and Why It Hurts • Module 2: The Role of Bullies, Victims, and Witnesses• Module 3: Factors Contributing to Bullying and Violence• Module 4: Screening and Assessment• Module 5: Treatment For Children and Adolescents• Module 6: Prevention and Intervention• Module 7: Legal and Ethical Issues

• Log on to: http://pathwayscourses.samhsa.gov/bully/bully_intro_pg1.htm

SAMHSA/Center for Substance Abuse Prevention’s Prevention Pathways: On Line Courses

The ABCs of BullyingAddressing, Blocking, and Curbing School Aggression

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• KIDS AGAINST BULLYING features five endearing multicultural, child-size puppets that portray children with and without disabilities. These puppets have proven to be a comfortable medium through which to teach children about bullying prevention. Opportunities exist throughout the presentation for children to learn through dialogue and question/answer.

• http://www.pacer.org/bullying/resources/puppet-show.asp

Kids Against Bullying Puppet Program

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• Show Me How is an award-winning 90-second video “commercial” for the SS/HS Initiative, produced by the Communication & Social Marketing Center. Using cutting-edge techniques taken from music videos and original music performed by 11- to 13-year old young people, Show Me How depicts the challenges facing youth in our communities and the successful solutions provided by Safe Schools/Healthy Students.

• http://www.sshs.samhsa.gov/initiative/commercial.aspx• You can find Show Me How also on SAMHSA's YouTube channel.

Show Me How Video

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• This Locator provides you with comprehensive information about mental health and substance abuse treatment services and resources and is useful for professionals, consumers and their families, and the public.

Log on to: http://www.samhsa.gov/treatment/index.aspxOr Call

1-800-662-HELP

SAMHSA’s Mental Health & Substance Abuse Treatment Services Locator

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Find Help for Suicide Prevention1-800-273-TALK (8255)

SuicidePreventionLifeline.org

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• Parent Centers are comprised of Parent Training and Information Centers (PTIs) and Community Parent Resource Centers (CPRCs), provide training and assistance to the families of the nation’s 7 million children with disabilities. These are funded through the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

(http://www.parentcenternetwork.org/parentcenters.html)

Parent Centers