An Overview and Resources on Bullying, plus LGBT Youth Resources
By Bridget Jordan: Bridget is Urban Balance's Marketing and Finance Assistant. She is currently earning her Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology from Northwestern University and training at the Family Institute.
There is no doubt that bullying is a scary, yet all too common occurrence in the lives of many children today. Every day, 160,000 children in the U.S. miss school out of fear of being bullied. Whether the victim is verbally taunted, threatened or physically abused by the bully, the pain and consequences can be severe. Recently, bullying has gained national attention due to its negative effects on victims’ self-esteem, academic performance and even lead to suicide, as was the case with 15 year-old Phoebe Prince (link to her story below.)
What if your child is being bullied? As a parent, it is crucial to talk to your child and look for the signs below, which might suggest he or she is being bullied.
- Is socially withdrawn
- Has few friends
- Feels picked on, isolated, or rejected
- Often complains of illness to avoid going to school
- His or her possessions are often damaged or “lost”
- Wants to take some kind of weapon to school for protection
- Talks about running away and or hurting themselves
What if you suspect your child is a bully? Talking to your child about his behavior is essential as well as seeking a counselor who has experience with children or adolescents can be beneficial.
Urban Balance provides counseling that aims to help and heal children, adolescents, parents and families whose lives have been affected by bullying. Our therapists can offer valuable resources that may be helpful to you and your family.
Bullying Resources:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0KOC/is_2_11/ai_n27483271/
http://www.schoolcounselor.org/content.asp?contentid=282
Support for parents
http://www.svmoms.com/2010/04/bullied-to-death-it-could-have-been-me-rtp-time-sensitive.html
http://www.reflectionscounseling.com/view/?pageID=232141
http://www.beatbullying.org/?gclid=CL_UlMK2oKECFUM45wodBnkwvg
http://www.focusas.com/Bullying.html
Support for LGBT Youth:
http://urbanbalance.org/Details/Let-s-Get-This-Straight-The-Ultimate-Handbook-for-Youth-with-LGBTQ-Parents.htmlhttp://urbanbalance.org/Details/Straight-Parents-Gay-Children-Keeping-Families-Together.html
http://urbanbalance.org/Details/Understanding-Sexual-Identity-A-Book-for-Gay-and-Lesbian-Teens-and-Their-Friends.html
http://urbanbalance.org/Details/Free-Your-Mind-The-Book-for-Gay-Lesbian-and-Bisexual-Youth-and-Their-Allies.html
http://urbanbalance.org/Details/Always-My-Child-A-Parent-s-Guide-to-Understanding-Your-Gay-Lesbian-or-Bisexual-Child.html