What do Harrison Ford, Mel Gibson, Christina Aguilera, Tom Cruise, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Denzel Washington have in common? They were all bullied.
Did you know that today 90 percent of 4th through 8th grade students report being victims of bullying? Or, that kids of this age call teasing and bullying “big problems” that rank higher than the pressure to try alcohol or drugs? We know that this type of harassment can not only interfere a child’s learning, but also impede a child’s self confidence. Impacts are also seen in the form of increased anxiety: fears, sleeplessness, headaches and stomach pains are among some things we hear. When we think of bullying we may think of physical assault. However of the six various types of bullies, physical bullies, or actual injury towards the target are the least common type. The more common complaints take the form of:verbal humiliation, social exclusion, and peer pressure. Kids may bully others for various reasons. In working to improve a bully’s behaviors, it is important to ask this child if they are targets of bullying or harassment themselves. Other dynamics we see include this child needing skills in being able to think how their behavior impacts others, potential improvement to their own self-esteem, needing coping skills to address their own frustrations instead of misdirecting them at others or possibly assisting them in understanding more appropriate ways to look “big” or “cool” in front of others.
The following are some suggestions for helping out in a bullying situation:
Advice for someone being bullied or teased:
If you are a parent or guardian who may have concerns about bullying, and would like to make an appointment to speak to a mental health professional, please call (617)847-1950 or for online resources visit www.stopbullyingnow.hrsa.gov.
Submitted by,
Kathleen Bambrick, LICSW
South Shore Mental Health