The Bullying Epidemic

I am an activist against bullying and a public speaker  This is a personal mission for me, since I was bullied as a child and I understand the devastation and pain.

The bullies of today have moved beyond stealing lunch money and name calling. These vicious bullies are driving children to suicide at a shocking rate.

In recent years, the growing number of bullying-related suicides in the US and around the world, have illustrated the link between bullying and suicide. Unbelievably, some adults still see bullying as "just part of being a kid,"  

These people need to wake up! This is a problem of deadly proportion.  To compound this dilemma, most people may not realize that there is also a link between being a bully and committing suicide.

The statistics on bullying and suicide are alarming:

• Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people, resulting in about 4,400 deaths per year, according to the CDC. For every suicide among young people, there are at least 100 suicide attempts. Over 14 percent of high school students have considered suicide, and almost 7 percent have attempted it.
• Bully victims are between 2 to 9 times more likely to consider suicide than non-victims, according to studies by Yale University
• A study in Britain found that at least half of suicides among young people are related to bullying
• 10 to 14 year old girls may be at even higher risk for suicide, according to the study above
• According to statistics reported by ABC News, nearly 30 percent of students are either bullies or victims of bullying, and 160,000 kids stay home from school every day because of fear of bullying

It is frightening to see how widespread this had become. But even more frightening is the  fact that no one really knows how to handle a bullying situation.  This nonchalant’ lack of action has allowed the blight to spread and grow like cancer.Education is the key.

The more I learned about this, the more I knew I had to step up and do the right thing.  I researched endlessly.  I consulted with the experts. I searched for the golden nuggets of information that could be quickly implemented. There are lives at stake.

I published a book, 'The Bullying Epidemic-the guide to arm you for the fight'.

The fact is bullying is starting earlier, the media feeds it and it's more damaging than ever.  The book provides tips on how to recognize the signs of bullying and how to address it. Additionally, there is a list of resources to get help quickly. 

The proceeds of the book go to 'The Bullying Epidemic Foundation' to provide educational seminars on bullying awareness for teachers, parents & students.You can find it here .
For more information please visit my Anti-Bullying Blog here.

"With ignorance comes fear- from fear comes bigotry. Education is the key to acceptance."~Kathleen Patel

To learn more about my antibullying programs click here.