Bullying and Hydrocephalus
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“Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school-aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Both kids who are bullied and who bully others may have serious, lasting problems.” (stopbullying.gov)
Bullying. We hold on to the 1950s image of the big kid on the playground taunting, name-calling, pushing, and intimidating other children. While that image is still valid, bullying is not exclusively dominated by boys, nor is it necessarily a single child bullying other children as stories of peer group bullying in the national media have shown. Even the landscape of bullying has changed.
According to StopBullying.Gov, bullying can occur during or after school hours. While most reported bullying happens in the school building, a significant percentage also happens in places like the playground or bus. It can also happen traveling to or from school, in the youth’s neighborhood, or on the internet.
FACT:Approximately 37% of youth between the ages of 12 and 17 have been bullied online. 30% have had it happen more than once. |
For our community, this is an opportunity to listen to the unique stories that our teens and young adults share of being bullied for their hydrocephalus. We can give them the proper tools they need to respond effectively. It is a chance for us to learn, for parents of young children to prepare, and for all of us to support one another.
FACT:More than 160,000 students in the United States stay home from school each day for fear of being bullied. (Pacer Center). |
- Bullying directly affects a student’s ability to learn. Students who are bullied often find it difficult to concentrate, show a decline in grades, and lose self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-worth. (Pacer Center)
- Students who are bullied report more physical symptoms, such as headaches or stomach aches, and mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety, than other students. (Pacer Center)
- Other students can be especially effective in bullying intervention. More than 55% of bullying situations will stop when a peer intervenes. (Pacer Center)
In some cases, bullying has led to devastating consequences, such as school shootings and suicide. (Pacer Center)
One of the best ways to begin to make a change is to provide the tools individuals and parents need to address bullying. Below is a list of organizations that provide suggestions, ideas, and advice for victims of bullying. Take a look! If you’re a parent, take some time this weekend and visit these sites with your child. Some of the sites are really interactive and engage kids through videos, petitions, and informational graphics.
General Information and Resources:
The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD)
American Academy of Children & Adolescents Psychiatry (AACAP)
PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center
30 Seconds: AAPD’s Campaign to Stop Bullying
StopBullying.gov
KidsHealth.org
Support and Resources for Kids:
PACER Center’s Kids Against Bullying
Anti Bullying Color Pages
Support and Resources for Teens and Young Adults:
PACER Center Teens Against Bullying
Teens Health
Do Something.org
Additional Sources:
NASP Resources
Make Beats, Not Beat Downs
Stop Cyber Bullying
Love to Know
New York State School Counselor Association
National Crime Prevention
Internet Safety 101
Stomp Out Bullying