Bullying Awareness
In recent years, there has been a surge of awareness related to bullying but even with awareness on the rise, bullying continues to be an issues in schools all over, and even in our own community. Sadly, often the end result of this issue is suicide. Though more people are being made aware of bullying, there is still a lot of work to do. Because this is a serious issue facing today’s youth, here are some warning signs to watch out for.
Signs a child is likely being bullied:
- Unexplainable injuries
- Lost or destroyed clothing or personal items
- Feeling sick or faking illness
- Skipping meals or binge eating.
- Difficulty sleeping, frequent nightmares
- Loss of interest in school, dropping grades
- Sudden loss of friends, avoidance of social situations
- Feelings of helplessness, decreased self-esteem
- Self-destructive behaviors
Signs that a child is bullying others:
- 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
- Don’t accept responsibility for their actions
- Are competitive and worry about their reputation or popularity
Here are some bullying resources:
http://www.pacerteensagainstbullying.org
http://www.yourlifeyourvoice.org
If you know a child who is being bullied or one that is bullying other children, stand up and get them the help they need. Call toll-free 800.637.8170 for legal assistance.
