By ANGELINE ASATOURIAN
Content warning: This article mentions teen suicide.
“No one heals himself by wounding another.” -St. Ambrose
Bullying is a serious problem not only across the United States, but also in communities that we live and go to school in. There are a lot of ways that students can prevent and help a victim of bullying, from just thinking before you post or speak to seeking resources or help from an adult.
There are many different effects of bullying, from distractions to tragedies. Students should not have to be worrying about what other people think about what they wear, who they like or how they look. Bullying can cause a lot of chaos, drama, and lead to fights in school, when school should be about having fun while getting an education.
In the worst cases, bullying can lead to suicide. Bullying is the leading cause of suicide in the United States for the ages of 11-17, according to Americashealthrankings.org. It is a huge problem across the United States. According to research by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “In the past decade, headlines reporting the tragic stories of a young person’s suicide death linked in some way to bullying (physical, verbal, or online) have become regrettably common.”
Students should try to help anyone who is being bullied. Words and actions can help prevent it from continuing or getting worse.
Actions you can take if you or someone you know is being bullied:
If you see something, say something
If you see someone being made fun of, you should get an adult involved to stop the process.
If you are being bullied, tell a trusted adult
If feel you are being made fun of in a way that you makes you uncomfortable or you are afraid for your safety you could go to the office or the adult you trust the most.
Image created using Canva. (DEBBIE DIAZ/ Ethic News image)
Questions to ask yourself if you or someone you know is being bullied:
How can I help?
Who is someone I can trust to assist?
What could be the outcome if no one says anything?
Actions you can take to prevent or help stop the spread of bullying:
Don’t start or continue rumors about others
Even if you did not start the rumor, do not continue it. Whether or not you believe that the rumors are true, do not continue them.
On social media, think before you post
Social media has been being used for many things and one can include bullying. Before you press that post button, think about the effects of what you are posting.
Image created using Canva. (DEBBIE DIAZ/ Ethic News image)
Questions to ask yourself when speaking or posting about others:
Is it true?
Is it kind?
Is it directed against someone?
Everyone can play a role in helping their families, friends and peers so students can get an education safely without the acts of bullying on campus.
More resources that can help:
For information on who to contact and how to approach a bullying situation:
https://www.stopbullying.gov/resources/get-help-now
For cyberbullying resources go to:
https://internetsafety101.org/cyberbullyingresources
More resources for educators and families created for helping children being bullied:
Bullying Prevention Resources
For Redlands Unified School District bullying resources:
ETHIC NEWS 