Bullying and Cyber-Bullying; A Desperate Need for an Ongoing Collaborative Approach

1. Bullying and Cyber-Bullying; A Desperate Need for an Ongoing Collaborative Approach Presenter: Dr. Lucy R. Cannon, LCSW, CCDP-D

2. Workshop Objectives • To define bullying and cyber-bullying • Statistical Data • Characteristics of bullies and victims • Video- The Casey Heynes/Richard Gale Story • Psychological and Substance Abuse impact on victims • Federal and State Laws related to bullying • Treatment interventions for victims and bullies • The necessity of a collaborative approach (e.g. Family, School, & Community) • Case Study -The Columbine Story (Could it have been prevented?)

3. Activity - “Cyber-Bullying Quiz” • http://www.drphil.com/shows/cyberbullyquiz Definitions: • Bullying • Bullying is defined as the use of one's strength or status to injure, threaten, or humiliate another person. Bullying can be physical, verbal, or social. It is not bullying when two students of about the same strength argue or fight. Source: Professional School Counseling, Apr2011, Vol. 14 Issue 4, p261-270, 10p, 1 Chart.

4. Bullying involves treating others abusively and to affect by means of force or coercion (Merriam Dictionary).

5. Cyber-bullying Definition • Cyber-bullying is an old problem that has advanced from writing degratory comments about someone on the bathroom walls at school to technology. • Cyber-bullying occurs when a teenager or pre-teenager uses the Internet, or any form of electronic communication, as a weapon of choice to threaten, harass, torture, or humiliate another person.

6. Technology Used by Bullies • Cyber-bullies use the Internet or a cell phone to threaten, spread rumors or post images of their victims. • Instant Messaging • Text Messages • Videos and photos • Method -Kids gang up on their victims in text wars or text attacks. • Source- http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_Cyber_Bullying/?page=2

7. Statistical Data • According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 36% to 43% of middle school students reported being bullied at school during the school year (DeVoe & Bauer, 2010). • Bullied children are at risk for later emotional and behavioral problems. • “Resilient’ children function better than would be expected given their experience of bullying victimization. • According to a national survey of state departments of education, 39 states inform educators, parents, and students about how to respond to bullying (Furlong & Morrison, 2000), and 23 states have passed antibullying laws that prohibit bullying in schools (www.bullypolice.org). Source- Journal of Child Psychology & Psychiatry, Jul2010, Vol. 51 Issue 7, p809-817, 9p, 2 Charts, 1 Graph.

8. British Study Findings; • For boys, being a victim of direct-physical bullying was associated with receiving nasty or threatening text and email messages, • For girls it was being unpopular among peers, • Boys received more hate-related messages and, • Girls were primarily the victims of name-calling. • Source- British Educational Research Journal, Aug2010, Vol. 36 Issue 4, p643-671, 29p, 6 Charts, 3 Graphs.

9. Statistical Data • Over a ten-year period more than 7,000 LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, and Transgender) middle and high school students (aged 13-21), were surveyed. The results were published in The 2009 National School Climate Survey. The survey found that in the preceding year, because of their sexual orientation: • Eight in ten LGBT students had been verbally harassed at school • Four in ten had been physically harassed at school • Six in ten felt unsafe at school • One in five had been the victim of a physical assault at school • They are more likely to skip school, smoke, use alcohol and drugs, or engage in other risky behavior. Source- http://www.stopbullying.gov/topics/lgbt/index.html

10. Bullying vs Cyber-bully • Bullying • Bully is known • Bullies see the physical and psychological effect they have on victims • Cyber-bullying • Bullies are not known • Information is sent through email and cell phones • Information oftentimes end up in “cyberspace” • Strangers have access to your information

11. The Nature of Electronic Bullying or Cyberbullying often includes; • Sending mean, vulgar, or threatening messages or images online or via text • Posting sensitive, private information or pictures about another person • Intentionally excluding someone from an online group

12. Cyber- bullies pretend to be someone else in order to make that person look bad • They spread lies and rumors about victims • They trick victims into revealing personal information and they expose it on the internet and other forms of social media Source: http://www.education.com/special-edition/bullying/cyberbullying/

13. CyberbullyingVideohttp://www.education.com/slideshow/concerns-tips-about-violence-video-games/concern-1-when-virtual-violence-becomes/ - Concerns and Tips About Violent Video Games (1,2, & 5)

14. Characteristics of Victims • Being Bullied • •Comes home with damaged or missing clothing or other belongings • •Reports losing items such as books, electronics, clothing, or jewelry • •Has unexplained injuries • •Complains frequently of headaches, stomach aches, or feeling sick • •Has trouble sleeping or has frequent bad dreams • •Has changes in eating habits • •Hurts themselves • •Are very hungry after school from not eating their lunch

15. Characteristics of Victims • Runs away from home • •Loses interest in visiting or talking with friends • •Is afraid of going to school or other activities with peers • •Loses interest in school work or begins to do poorly in school • •Appears sad, moody, angry, anxious or depressed when they come home • •Talks about suicide • •Feels helpless • •Often feels like they are not good enough • •Blames themselves for their problems • •Suddenly has fewer friends • •Avoids certain places • •Acts differently than usual

16. Characteristics of Bullies • May witness physical and verbal violence or aggression at home. They have a positive view of this behavior, and they act aggressively toward other people, including adults. • May hit or push other children. • Are often physically strong. • May or may not be popular with other children around their same age. • Have trouble following rules. • Show little concern for the feelings of others. • Many bullies think highly of themselves.

17. You Tube Video- Bullying Behavior Impact on Casey Heynes (Victim) and Richard Gale (Bully) Casey Heynes (Victim) • Richard Gale Richard Gale (Bully)

18. Psychological Effects of Bullying • Possible Short-Term Effects: • Anxiety • Loneliness • Low self-esteem • Poor social self-competence • Depression • Psychosomatic symptoms

19. Social withdrawal • School refusal • School absenteeism • Poor academic performance • Physical health complaints • Running away from home • Alcohol and drug use • Suicide • Source-http://www.education.com/special-edition/bullying/cyberbullying/?q=characteristics+of+bullies

20. Substance Abuse Impact on Bullying • Many adolescents suffering from depression find risk taking behavior such as violence, sex, and substance use a reprieve from their depression. • Results from internet bullying especially the social networking as it is a growing form of communication and particularly popular amongst teenagers contributes to teenagers alcohol and drug use.

21. A recent collaboration of the Society of Prevention Research and Jeremy Luk of University of Washington found a correlating link of substance use and teen girls with depression resulting from bullying. Luk analyzed a study conducted by the U.S. Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC), of 1,495 10th graders focusing on bullying, depression and substance use.

22. Depressed teenage girls perception of what is being said about them, makes them high candidates for substance abuse. Source: http://www.treatment4addiction.com/blog/addiction/teenage-bullying-may-lead-to-drug-addiction-and-alcohol-abuse/

23. Federal and State Laws related to bullying • State • Section 160.775 RSMo. requires every school district to have an antibullying policy as of September 1, 2007. • The statute was revised in 2010 to require school districts to address cyber-bullying in their policies. A model policy has been developed by the Missouri School Boards Association. • Source-http://dese.mo.gov/schoollaw/freqaskques/anti-bullying.html

24. Federal Letters from the Office of the Assistant Secretary, Office for Civil Rights, U.S. Department of Education, provide school administrators with information about how bullying may trigger responsibilities under one or more of the federal antidiscrimination laws enforced by the OCR.

25. Bullying and Civil Rights • Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, or national origin; • Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (Title IX), which prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex; • Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504); and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Title II). • Section 504 and Title II prohibit discrimination on the basis of disability.

26. Treatment Interventions • Thorough bio-psychosocial assessments that include questions related to bullying and victims. • The Peer Relations Assessment Questionnaires – Revised (PRAQ-R) • The Handling Bullying Questionnaire (HBQ) • Beck’s Depression Inventory • Substance Abuse Assessments • Psychological Testing • Psychiatric Evaluations • Individual Counseling • Group Counseling • Family Counseling

27. A Collaborative Approach • A Collaboration of Families, Schools, and Communities; • What Schools and Communities Can Do? • Develop Clear Policies on Bullying • Train Staff and Volunteers in Bullying Prevention and Intervention

28. Create Safe Environments for all Children • Discuss Bullying Openly • Provide Additional Support • Raise Community Awareness Source: stopbullying.gov

29. Carney (2008) suggest that school counselors look for symptoms of trauma, such as avoidance and patterned responses to stress (e.g. nightmares) in victims of bullying. • School personnel and community leaders need specialized training to help them recognize bullies and victims. • Especially important is explaining to students the difference between seeking help to prevent someone from being hurt and snitching on someone for personal gain. • The differences in perceptions of bullying between pupils and staff indicate that teachers need to invest more time in talking with pupils about the nature of bullying.

30. Community Based Tools (Collaborative Approach) • The School Climate Bullying Scale (SCBS; Cornell, 2010) is a 45-item self-report instrument used to examine the extent and nature of bullying problems in school. A series of studies support its reliability and validity • The Olweus Bullying Victimization Questionnaire

31. Anti Bulling Prevention Program • DEVELOPMENT OF THE BULLY BUSTERS PROGRAM

32. Case Study-The Columbine Story-Could it have been prevented?

33. Who were Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold? • Columbine Shooting – April 20, 1999 • For well over a year before the shooting the boys had been making plans to attack their school and the people in it. • According to what they said in the hate-filled journals and videos they left behind, they wanted to take revenge on the people they accused of picking on and snubbing them. • Group Activity : Why did they do what they did? Could this tragedy have been prevented? Why?

34. Questions and Answers