a high profile problem

The Modern

BULLY
By Officer Amanda Street, Normal Police Department

ullies are nothing new in our society. The classic archetype bully on the playground is found in every type of media usually a big, scary boy who hustles fellow students for lunch money. Yet bullying is an ever increasing topic of conversation for parents of school age children because the bully is evolving with technology. So what has changed to make bullying such a high profile problem? A simple answer the media. American youth spend countless hours connected to each other through social media and video games. TV and movies are increasingly more violent, especially when compared to those made 20 or 30 years ago. Add into the equation record numbers of teens with smart phones who are online 24 hours a day, using Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, SnapChat and many other social media applications. All of these examples are increasingly more anonymous and quickly spread, making it easy to tease and torment the person on the other side with no immediate negative side effects. But the side effects are real. In recent years, the phenomenon of bullycide (suicide caused by bullying) has become more prevalent. The media is littered with stories of teens who commit suicide because of constant harassment. In 2010, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that suicide is the third leading cause of death for Americans age 10 24, or approximately 4,600 deaths each year. According to a 2011 CDC report, 16 percent of high school students were electronically bullied in the past year. In that same year, an average of 1,938 youth age 10 24 were treated in an emergency room for assault-related injuries. School shootings are more commonplace as well which some experts attribute to the increase in bullying. School shooters are often picked on at school and immerse themselves in violent movies and video games, exchanging bodies for points.
Page 38 Healthy Cells Magazine Bloomington August 2013

If you suspect your child is being bullied, keep these warning signs in mind: Unexplained injuries Lost or destroyed clothing, books, electronics or jewelry Frequent headaches or stomach aches, feeling sick or faking illness Changes in eating habits, like suddenly skipping meals or binge eating. Kids may come home from school hungry because they did not eat lunch. Difficulty sleeping or frequent nightmares Declining grades, loss of interest in schoolwork, or not wanting to go to school Sudden loss of friends or avoidance of social situations Feelings of helplessness or decreased self esteem Self-destructive behaviors such as running away from home, harming themselves, or talking about suicide The following may be signs that your child is bullying others: Gets into physical or verbal fights Has friends who bully others Is increasingly aggressive Gets sent to the principals office or to detention frequently Has unexplained extra money or new belongings Blames others for their problems Doesnt accept responsibility for their actions Is competitive and worries about their reputation or popularity More information and resources on bullying are available online at www.StopBullying.gov. Heartland Community College Community Education is also presenting a School Violence & Bullying seminar beginning September 23. Call 309-268-8160 or visit www.heartland.edu/communityEd for more information or to register.