Everyone is school has concerns about bullying and violence. Bullying is not just a rite of passage and part of the competitive spirit, as was once thought. It is a serious problem in our schools and neighborhoods. Bullies often have emotional problems, histories of trauma, and inadequate problem solving and social skills. Bullying becomes their self-defense, so they will not be bullied or harmed by others.
Bullying is not something they will grow out of it without assistance and guidance from wise and caring adults.
Victims of bullying often need the help of an adult to get the behavior stopped.
Programs such as Character Counts and the Olweus Bullying. Program can teach a whole school about good social skills, respect for others and stopping bullying. It really takes changing everyone’s attitudes and behavior to stop bullying.
School Based Mental Health Services involves having mental health professionals located in the school building where they can see the problems, attend to a crisis, provide therapy, and consult with teachers and administrative personnel. There is much research to indicate that school based mental health services reduces mental health and behavioral problems of students.
There are many things that can be done to reduce bullying behavior in schools. It takes awareness, commitment, a coalition of parents, teachers and administrators, and a lot of work to make and implement a plan, but it is well worth it.
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Dr. Kathy Seifert has a degree in psychology from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County 1995. She is a licensed psychologist in MD and specializes in trauma, violence, and behavior problems among youth and their families. Her second specialty is violently, sexually, and criminally offending men and women. She is the author of How Children Become Violent and founder of Dr. Kathy Seifert.com.
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