“Bullying is a national epidemic”
Bridgewater, N.J. (September 16, 2013) –90% of middle school students have had their feelings hurt via online and 45% have admitted to using a web site to bash another student.
According to Stopbullying.gov Cyberbullying is bullying that takes place using electronic technology. Electronic technology includes devices and equipment such as cell phones, computers, and tablets as well as communication tools including social media sites, text messages, chat, and websites.
Some examples of cyberbullying include taunting text messages or emails, rumors sent by email or posted on social networking sites, and embarrassing pictures, videos, websites, or fake profiles.
The technology aspect of cyberbullying is what makes cyberbullying worse than face-to-face.Cyberbullying reaches a large amount of people in a short amount of time. For example, a text message can be sent to 100 people in under 5 minutes.
Kids who are cyberbullied are more likely to:
Use alcohol and drugs
Skip school (truancy)
Self-harm
Experience in-person bullying
Be unwilling to attend school
Receive poor grades
Have lower self-esteem
Have more health problems
Complete suicide
Any form of bullying that goes untreated can cause serious depression and other mental health issues. There is always help! GenPsych, PC, provider of top quality outpatient psychiatric and substance abuse services, stresses the importance of a healthy lifestyle. GenPsych offers a Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Program which isa structured therapeutic treatment that emphasizes balance between acceptance and change.DBT helps reduce impulsive behaviors, such as suicidality, self-harm, substance abuse, eating disordered behavior, aggression, isolation, rumination, dissociation, anxiety, depression and panic attacks.
If you or someone you know are being bullied, please report the incident to your school officials or parents. For more information on bullying in schools visit: http://www.stopbullying.gov/prevention/at-school/index.html
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