TV Anchor Jennifer Livingston’s response to a bully fired me up today. October kicked off Bullying Prevention Month and I want to spread the word about the true impact of bullying on kids.
First of all, being bullied is not “normal” kid stuff.
“Being bullied is not just an unpleasant rite of passage through childhood,” said Duane Alexander, M.D., director of the NICHD. “It’s a public health problem that merits attention. People who were bullied as children are more likely to suffer from depression and low self esteem, well into adulthood, and the bullies themselves are more likely to engage in criminal behavior later in life.”
According to facts on StopBullying.gov those who are bullied appear to be at greatest risk of the following: experiencing loneliness; trouble making friends; lack of success in school; and involvement in problem behaviors such as smoking and drinking.
According to bullying statistics, one out of every 10 students who drops out of school does so because of repeated bullying.
Kids who are bullied struggle with depression and anxiety—and these issues may persist into adulthood.
A very small number of bullied children might retaliate through extremely violent measures. In 12 of 15 school shooting cases in the 1990s, the shooters had a history of being bullied.
Watch how TV anchor Jennifer Livingston of WKBT-TV took a hurtful and cruel letter from a viewer and turned it into an empowering response against bullying.
Go Jennifer!
Image: StopBullying.gov
