Bullying Prevention Month In Brentwood

BRENTWOOD, CA — We hope you’ve noticed over the past year that we’ve been focusing on bullying and cyberbullying, a confounding national crisis that turns youths’ lives upside down with unimaginable angst and dread, sometimes with deadly consequences. With each story, we’ve heard poignant stories from Patch readers in Los Angeles and others who were bullied and overcame it, but also many who continue to struggle with the damage done by bullies to their self-esteem.

Many common threads emerged in emails from our readers: Teachers and other educators have suggested everything from first-period decompression time to classroom contracts with students on how they’re expected to treat one another. But for all the readers who said schools need to do more to foster an anti-bullying culture, as many said parents should talk more with their kids about bullying and keep closer track on their social media habits.

And in a loud chorus, they said Americans need to stop wringing their hands and work at all levels to create a world safe from bullying.

That’s one of the purposes of National Bullying Prevention Month, observed annually during October to bring attention to the problem and involve people in Los Angeles and nationwide in a conversation on how to create a world safe from bullying.

Resources For Brentwood Students And Families

No community is immune to bullying, and even now, the Los Angeles County Sheriff's department is investigating a possible case of bullying involving two Lancaster High School students. A now-deleted video posted to Facebook Friday shows a girl mocking and then slapping a boy, said to be a special needs student, as other classmates look on.

The encounter occurred Thursday morning and was reported to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department for further investigation.

In Los Angeles, schools and community groups have organized efforts throughout the month to highlight the importance of prevention when it comes to bullying. In a district as massive as the Los Angeles Unified School District, such efforts are a continual process with a series of public service announcements and programs used throughout the school year and especially during bullying prevention month.

"National Bullying Prevention Month is a reminder that schools are learning environments for children to thrive, explore, and become leaders of tomorrow. Bullying has no place on our campuses," said Human Relations, Diversity and Equity Administrator Judy Chiasson. "Effective bullying prevention is grounded in the philosophy that what we focus on grows. That is why LA Unified supports a positive school climate that is defined by caring and kindness, where social emotional learning matters. Schools are prepared to support students If an incident does occur that does not support these standards."

Much of the district's work focuses on bystanders and providing students with tools for intervening when they witness bullying behavior.

The San Fernando Valley Community Mental Health Center, Inc. this month unveiled a telephone hotline and webpage for students being bullied or parents concerned about bullying.

Themed “Be A Hero – Rise Up Against Bullying” the campaign also helps bystanders address bullying behavior. The 24/7 hotline number is (866) BeAHero (232-4376) and the web site address is 866BeAHero.com. The 24/7 hotline will serve students and parents throughout Los Angeles, Orange County, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura.

Multilingual counselors will be available live to talk on a 24-hour basis. Counselors can also offer in-person advocacy, as well as educational, informational programs and resources for students, parents and teachers.

“You are not alone,” said Jennifer Calderon, LMFT, LPCC, Assistant Director for Transitional Youth & Family Support Services. “We take bullying very seriously. And with the launch of this program, kids and parents and teachers have a place to turn to if they are being bullied or are concerned about bullying.”

"It’s a sad fact that, nationally, nearly one-third of all students grades 6-12 will be bullied,” said Supervisor Sheila Kuehl. “San Fernando Valley Community Mental Health Center is launching a first-of-its-kind, 24/7 countywide hotline number for kids, parents and teachers to help stop bullying. This campaign is critical not only for our young people, but also for all the adults who care about them.”

A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE

Once viewed as a childhood “rite of passage” that toughened kids to handle the pressures of adulthood, bullying and its more insidious digital twin, cyberbullying, is seen by many experts as a major public health issue — on par with heart disease, cancer and diabetes — with devastating and often long-term effects like the loss of self-esteem, heightened anxiety and depression.

We want to hear from you. Do you have a story to tell about bullying or cyberbullying, a suggestion about how to stem it or an event to publicize? Comment at the end of the story, or email page.austin@patch.com and copy bullies@patch.com. You can post Bullying Prevention Month and many other events right on Patch.

Statistics vary, but an aggregate of 80 different studies on bullying suggests one in five American students between 12 and 18 is bullied at some point during their middle or high school years. Traditional bullying — name calling, public humiliation, isolation, physical violence and that sort of thing — occurs most often, with 35 percent of kids reporting they’ve been targeted in one of those ways. The studies cited by the PACER Center, which established National Bullying Prevention Month, show that 15 percent of kids surveyed report being cyberbullied.

And though it occurs less often, cyberbullying — which has resulted in a disturbing string of suicides by adolescents and teenagers — is especially hard to stop. While experts say most cyberbullied kids don’t kill themselves, the long-tailed internet makes a taunt live longer than one flung on the schoolyard. Kids can escape traditional bullying in the safety of their homes, but because social media is so intertwined with how kids communicate, they never really escape it.

READ: Bullied To Death: When Kids Kill With Words

And because cyberbullies have the stealth of anonymity, “empathy tends to fade to zero,” NoBully.org founder Nicholas Carlisle told Patch.

He was knocked around 40 or so years ago as an awkward 12-year-old. The torment persisted through high school, but as tough as it was, his experience was markedly different from the torture kids endure today, he says — and it’s not just that he was attacked in a physical as opposed to online space.

“Online, you can’t see the whites of their eyes,” Carlisle said. “If you can see someone, that’s often a break upon people’s aggression — not always, but it does seem to have some break upon crossing the line.”

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The full consequences of bullying on the brain aren’t fully understood, but kids who are targeted by bullies in childhood and adolescence are at increased risk for psychological problems that can stretch into adulthood, according to experts. In the moment, bullied kids may be unable to sleep or suffer a range of stomach issues and headaches. Later on, they’re at risk for depression, anxiety, and alcohol and drug use.

OCT. 24 UNITY DAY

Among the marquee National Bullying Prevention Month activities is Unity Day, observed on Wednesday, Oct. 24, when everyone is encouraged to wear and show orange to send a message that no child should ever experience bullying.

“Orange provides a powerful, visually compelling expression of solidarity,” Paula Goldberg, the executive director of the PACER Center, said in a statement. “Whether it’s hundreds of individuals at a school wearing orange, store owners offering orange products or a community changing a landmark to orange, the vibrant statement becomes a conversation starter, sending the supportive, universal message that bullying is never acceptable behavior.”

Here’s more about Unity Day:

THE BULLY MENACE: WHAT’S AHEAD

During October and beyond, several experts have agreed to answer readers’ questions about bullying, ranging from how to keep their kids from becoming targets to what to do if their kids are the bullies. We’ll also delve into some of the issues surrounding bullying —

Take a look back at some of the stories in our series:

• America’s Shameful Truth About School Shooters And Bullying
• They All Failed Changed Child: Malden Bullying Detailed
• Bullies, Their Targets The Same In A Surprising Number Of Cases
• ‘Everyday, I Wear Your Words,’ Teen Tells Bullies In Video
• Teen’s ‘I Wear Your Words’ Video Inspires Nashville Songwriters
• Bullying Of Mallory Grossman, 12, Spelled Out In Wrongful Death Lawsuit
• Poetry Teacher Helps Bullied Kids Open Their Tortured Minds
• Why These Kindergartners Start Each Day With A Simple Handshake

If you have a question or want to share your story, please email bullies@patch.com.

Photo: Youtube Screengrab