Bullying: A Root Cause We Can Uproot
Bully, a new documentary film by Lee Hirsch and Cynthia Lowen, is intimate, human, honest, and gorgeously scored—all the trappings of a good movie. But Bully’s passionate yet well-crafted social message – a plea to end bullying and improve millions of lives in the process – makes it truly great, and possibly the most important film of the year.
The movie portrays kids and families across the country whose lives have been irrevocably altered by bullying. A girl and her parents have been shunned and abused ever since she came out as a lesbian. A boy has convinced himself that the kids who punch, stab, and strangle him daily on the school bus do it because they are his “friends.” Another girl is charged with multiple felony counts after brandishing a gun in hopes of scaring off her tormentors. Two sets of parents try to cope after losing their sons, ages 17 and 11, to suicide. And there are millions more stories like these—13 million kids are bullied in the United States each year.
HHS and Dept. of Education (re)Launch StopBullying.gov
Good news for parents and educators looking for resources on bullying and prevention: Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and Education Secretary Arne Duncan recently relaunched the Stop Bullying website. The interactive site now includes information dedicated to preventing and addressing cyberbullying, bullying LGBT youth and bullying kids with special needs. There are separate sections for parents, educators and bullied kids.
From the press release:
The website provides a map with detailed information on state laws and policies, interactive webisodes and videos for young people, practical strategies for schools and communities to ensure safe environments, and suggestions on how parents can talk about this sensitive subject with their children. The site also explores the dangers of cyberbullying and steps youngsters and parents can take to fight it.
Research shows that bullying is physical and emotional abuse. Students who are bullied are more likely to struggle in school and skip class. They are more likely to abuse drugs and alcohol, be depressed, and are at higher risk of suicide. There is a Get Help page, which is directly linked to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, which means young people can get immediate help for themselves or others if needed.
Bullying, Substance Abuse and Where to Go From Here
Sticks and stones may break bones, but mean words and taunts are proving to be harmful as well. Every day, kids across the country are bullied at school. Not only does this behavior make it difficult for them to learn, but in some cases, students skip school from fear of being bullied.
Last year, the White House elevated this issue by holding a bullying prevention summit to provide resources for schools. And recently, pop sensation Lady Gaga launched the Born This Way Foundation to empower teens to be nicer and more accepting of each other. "The victim and the bully are both going through mental turmoil," noted Gaga at the launch event. "Don't just save the victim, save the bully."
Gaga may be onto something. A new study published in Addictive Behaviors, found that bullies are more likely to use alcohol, drugs and cigarettes than non-bullies. And four out of five youth arrests either involve substance use, are committed while under the influence, or the kid later admits to having a substance abuse problem.
So where do we go from here?
New juvenile court guidelines help struggling students & more: news roundup
Juvenile Justice Reform
- New juvenile court guidelines to help struggling students
The San Fernando Valley Sun:
Los Angeles' Juvenile Court Presiding Judge Michael Nash has issued new guidelines to eliminate fines and unnecessary court time for students who were late to school and for other minor offenses. The court will also direct students who miss school to seek out school- and community-based resources that are shown to improve academic achievement and get struggling students back on track. - Report: Move mentally ill youth from state lockups
CantonRep.com:
The state should transfer mentally ill juvenile inmates to psychiatric facilities as soon as possible and find money for their treatment, according to a new report on the status of Ohio’s youth prison system. - Pennsylvania court amending waivers for juveniles
The Times Leader:
New statewide rules regarding legal representation of juveniles in court were sparked by the judicial scandals that first rocked Luzerne County three years ago. - Despite weak economy, crime in Los Angeles County still declines
LA Times:
There have been dire warnings that crime would rise since the economy began stalling several years ago. But in Southern California, crime continues its long decline despite the weak economy. Indeed, 2011 brought new worries about a "double dip recession," yet streets in many parts of the region were the safest they've been in decades. - New California bill goes after parents of truant teens
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin:
California Assembly Bill 177, which took effect on January 1st, expands the number of reasons for which parents or guardians can be ordered to take anti-gang parenting classes if their child is convicted of a crime. - Board of Juvenile Justice retains ban on discrimination based on youths’ sexual orientation
Washington Post:
Virginia’s Board of Juvenile Justice again has retained a ban on discrimination based on sexual orientation at its residential centers. - Richmond Juvenile Detention Center has been placed on state probation
Richmond Times-Dispatch:
For the second time in three years, the Richmond Juvenile Detention Center has been placed on state probation because of ongoing safety concerns. - New Illinois laws include shifts in juvenile sentencing process
A new state law requires that Illinois judges sentencing minors to state juvenile prison ensure that incarceration is the least restrictive option and that efforts to find alternatives to secure confinement were unsuccessful. - Alabama’s Lauderdale County shutting down detention center
Weeks after the Justice Department announced its investigation into Lauderdale County's juvenile justice system, county officials are moving to shut down the youth detention facility a grand jury described as unfit to house dogs. - After jail, youth with disabilities need special support to stay out
When young people with disabilities end up in the juvenile justice system, they're less likely to return to youth prisons after their sentence is up if they have jobs or go to school quickly after being released, a new paper says.
Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment
- Pennsylvania Senator calls for closing of loopholes in law on synthetic drugs
Join Together:
U.S. Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania called on the Senate Judiciary Committee to close loopholes in a synthetic drug law that allows makers of the drugs to slightly alter their ingredients to avoid federal and state bans.
