Bullying at school is a problem that has gained significant awareness the past few years. Many believe that the prevalence of bullying behaviors has increased within the past decade, resulting in increased awareness of this nationwide problem. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it is estimated that 19% of 9-12 grade students have been bullied on school grounds. Additionally, it has been noted by research that parents and other adults often miss indicators of bullying and the majority of the time that they do recognize bullying, they do not know how to manage the situation appropriately.
What are the best ways for schools to decrease and prevent bullying
Programs that focus on bullying prevention seem to be the most effective strategies to decrease bullying at school. These programs are typically multidimensional and involve students, parents, teachers, school staff, and other community members. It has been shown that students learn to intervene when they are bystanders and witness their peers being bullied. Parents and teachers who openly discuss problems with bullying and who encourage compassion and respect, tend to help prevent bullying in school and extracurricular activities.
The Importance of Understanding the Forms of Bullying, including Cyberbullying
In order to prevent and stop bullying in the school setting, it is important to understand the various types of bullying and how some forms of bullying could be easily missed. Bullying could occur directly and indirectly. When bullying occurs directly, the behavior occurs in the individual’s presence. Indirect bullying often occurs when rumors are spread or private information about a peer is shared with other peers. Additionally, cyberbullying is a type of bullying that has significantly increased since the use of social media and messaging applications have been popularized.
Ways to intervene and help a child who has been bullied at school
Being a victim of bullying has proved to extremely harmful to children and adolescents. Bullying can impact a child’s self-esteem, lead to school avoidance and increase symptoms of depression, anxiety, and suicidal behaviors. It is an ongoing problem in all school settings that adults may often miss. Children who are victims of bullying need support in order to cope with this difficult situation. Psychotherapy often provides these children with a safe, nonjudgmental space where they could express their emotions regarding any bullying incidents. Insecurities they may have a difficult time understanding or coping with could be explored with the psychologist. Additionally, the psychologist will help parents and school administration navigate through the bullying and develop a plan to prevent any similar incidents from happening in the future.
If your child has experienced any form of bullying, it may be beneficial to meet with a psychologist. Miami Psychology Group offers individual child psychology and family therapy services by qualified psychologists in the Miami and Miami Beach area. Please contact Miami Psychology Group in order to learn more.