British council statistics have shown that UK secondary schools are the worst for bullying in Europe with over 2 million children seeking professional advice from their GP’s for emotional or psychological distress. The UK stands to have the highest suicide rates in Europe with over 5000 citizens taking their own life each year, and it is estimated that there is a new suicide every 82 minutes. It is evident that bullying is playing a significant role as the cause of this self-inflicted loss of life. Whether it is within the work place, at home or at school, bullying is a key factor.
My question is this; could these frightening statistics be prevented? And in terms of helping the under 16’s, are we the parent doing all we can to help avoid the devastating results that bullying can lead too? Or is it simply now too difficult to tell before it is just too late?
It is a hot topic in the media at present that with the help of new media, bullying is something that cannot even be avoided from the hiding out point, of the victim’s bedroom. Now recognised as “cyber bullying” , bullies are able to make contact via their mobile phones, social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook or YouTube and using these tools to further communicate in an abusive or threatening manner causing further embarrassment for the victim. Making it almost impossible for young children to ever escape the horrors they may have to also face during their day at school. Is new media therefore becoming a significant factor in this increasing number of deaths? Recent media coverage would argue yes.
In the past month alone, TV shows including celebrity stars such as Jodie Marsh, Cher Lloyd and Gok Wan have all played a part in promoting the impacts bullying is having on the younger generation today. These shows have included victims who are currently being bullied speaking out, celebrities voicing their past experiences and also the parents of children who have taken their own lives as a result of bullying. And through all these shows one thing is ringing clear, a lot of the abuse being received is coming via the internet.
Robert and Tracy Mullany are forced to live with the devastating effects of cyber bullying. In May 2010, they found their 15 year old son Thomas hanging in their back garden, believed to be the result of the abuse he had received from bullies at his school via social media. His parents do not believe these bullies intended to kill their son or drive him to his death, but they simply did not understand the result their communications would have. They are now fighting for a law that states cyber bullying is an illegal act and for further education to be given to teachers, parents and the police to communicate the implications.
Claude Knights, director of the children's charity Kidscape, said she also wanted to see a change in the law. She said: "This is such a harrowing case and it shows how horrendous these situations can get”.
Facebook operate an over 13 rule and anyone who joins the social media site has to agree to their full terms and conditions that clearly state acts of bullying and harassment will not be tolerated, but it currently stands that up to one in three British children had been the victim of cyber bullying. The statistics prove rules and regulations set by the social media sites are not enough to deter bullies of the dangers their actions may lead too.
“Beatbullying” are a charity working with children and young people across the UK to help stop bullying. They offer a variety of ground breaking programmes which include “CyberMentors” and “MiniMentors” that specifically focus their attention towards cyber bullying. This includes educating young children aged between 5-11 (MiniMentors) and 11-18 (CyberMentors) that are not only the victim of cyber bulling but may also have bullied.
The “Beatbullying” website states, “we empower young people so deeply affected by bullying that they can barely face going to school every day. We help young people to support each other. We help young people that bully to change their attitudes and behaviour. We shape attitudes, and change behaviours”.
Although these programmes are primarily aimed towards children, “Beatbullying” do allow parents and teaching professionals, to also get involved, to educate and advice on the signals that could point towards cyber bullying.
Cyber bullying is such a delicate yet hot topic in the media at present, if approached in the right manner we as a country could have the power to turn this negative into a positive. Yet while we continue to brush the topic under the table, we are inevitably allowing it to continue to happen. “Beatbullying” could play a key role in turning this negative into a positive.
The fault for these dreadful statistics does not lay solely with the parents, teachers or even the bullies; it does however sit with the British education system in that action this must be an on-going process within schools to help provide each of these parties with the understanding and consequences cyber bullying can lead too.
Kelly Ward
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