Gulf Coast Woman

“Another teen suicide.” Too often those words are being posted or spoken. Nearly 30 percent of children in grades 6-12 have reported being bullied and increasingly bullying is leading to suicide.

More than 70 percent of teachers and students have witnessed bullying according to “The Journal of the American Medical Association.” Females in high school, at 22 percent, are twice as likely as male high school students to report being cyberbullied. They also are more likely (22 percent) to report being bullied on school property.

“Bullying can lead to severe anxiety, depression, and feelings of isolation,” says Kay Daneault, executive director of the Mental Health Association of South Mississippi. “Many young people struggle with low self-esteem and hopelessness due to relentless harassment. This makes intervention and support crucial. Bullying and suicide can be addressed through open conversations, mental health resources, and policies that protect young people.”

Take Steps to Stop It

As a parent, what can you do to help and protect your child? Mental Health America recommends these steps:

Start early.

Parent/child talks are essential. Teach kids to respect others before they start school and continue to talk about this topic on an ongoing basis. Even small acts of teasing should be stopped in their tracks. Don’t fail to correct this kind of behavior due to a child’s young age. This is exactly when to stop it.

Teach your children how to be assertive.

Encourage your children to express their feelings clearly, say no when they feel uncomfortable or pressured, stand up for themselves without fighting and walk away in dangerous situations.

Stop bullying when you see it.

Adults who remain silent when bullying occurs are encouraging it and making it worse.

Listen and support children who speak up.

Telling an adult about bullying is not easy for children. If a child comes to you seeking assistance with bullying, spend time listening to them and provide affirmation and support before taking actions. Read through and discuss our Bullying Checklist with your child as a resource.

Recognize the signs of depression.

Youth who experience persistent bullying can develop signs of depression like sadness, isolation, poor concentration and sleeping problems. These symptoms can affect their relationships and school performance. Many children do not recognize or speak up about their emotional needs. Make sure to reach out and get them help when you see these signs.

Tell your children to take action when they see bullying behavior.

Tell them to speak out against the bully and inform a teacher if the behavior doesn’t stop. Bullying continues only when we allow it to.

Communicate clear policies and consequences.

Bullying is less likely in schools where adults are involved and firm about stopping bullying behaviors. Send out a clear message at your school that bullying will have negative consequences.

Team up.

Work with your PTA or the local MHA affiliate (Mental Health Association of South Mississippi) to make sure that schools treat bullying as violence. Help them develop programs to prevent bullying and promote safe school environments.

Recognize it

Bullying is aggressive behavior. It occurs when a child is targeted by one or more youth with repeated negative actions over a period of time. These are intentional attempts to cause discomfort or injury and can include name-calling, obscene gesturing, malicious teasing, exclusion, threats, rumors, physical hitting, kicking, pushing and choking. Cyber-bullying is also a real and growing problem today.

Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time. Both kids who are bullied and who bully others may have serious, lasting problems.

In order to be considered bullying, the behavior must be aggressive and include:

• An Imbalance of power: Kids who bully use their power — such as physical strength, access to embarrassing information, or popularity — to control or harm others. Power imbalances can change over time and in different situations, even if they involve the same people.
• Repetition: Bullying behaviors happen more than once or have the potential to happen more than once.

Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose.

Source: Stopbullying.gov

By Natalie Moore

Many people still suffer and struggle in silence with mental health challenges due to lingering stigma. They don’t want to be labeled as “weak” or “crazy,” so they often retreat, feeling lost and isolated.

But the truth is mental health struggles are human, not a flaw. If you’re burdened with the weight of a condition like anxiety or depression, you are not alone; millions experience similar challenges.

Here are some points to bear in mind:

• Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
• Recovery looks different for everyone.
• Peer support offers non-judgmental understanding.
• It’s okay to talk about what you’re going through.

Natalie Moore is peer wellness services coordinator for the Mental Health Association of South Mississippi. Reach her at NMoore@msmentalhealth.org.

By Mavis A. Creagh

“I’m not doing well” was the phrase that kept popping into my head. I was in a state of constant “busyness” with little time to rest. Although the work was positive, I felt overwhelmed and stressed out.

If this sounds familiar, here are some tips on how to slow down while still moving forward in your life and mental health journey.

Reset boundaries:

As a naturally caring and helpful person, I struggled with boundaries. This led to high stress levels and greater anxiety. Trying to please people cost me dearly, and sometimes even now, I must regroup.

Set emotional goals:

Determine what a healthy state looks like for you physically, mentally and emotionally — even write it down. If someone or something opposes the goals you’ve established, it’s time to reevaluate your role in the relationship.

I know this can be difficult, but you get to decide how you engage and to what extent you allow situations to affect you.

Allow time for breaks:

My calendar was once so overloaded that I sometimes would forget to eat or take medicine. This is unhealthy and shows that I’d left no time in my schedule to breathe and evaluate my priorities. Remember that you are your most important asset, and you must take steps to ensure your wellbeing — even in a fast-paced world.

Prioritize mental and emotional care:

Therapy and counseling are important tools to help navigate and manage stressors. There is nothing wrong with seeking help, especially when you can’t process and cope on your own.

Stop:

Slow down long enough to process the past, present and future. This can be scary, especially if you have experienced trauma, abuse or neglect or are in an unhealthy situation.

Set limits:

Some stressor you can’t avoid, but others come from obligating yourself when you lack the physical or emotional capacity.

‘No’ is not a bad word:

Saying “no” has caused me great anxiety at times. Practice saying it and get comfortable with relaying the message. My favorite way to turn things down lately is saying, “I don’t have the capacity.”

Pursue happiness:

Put yourself around people, places and things that bring you joy and fulfillment. Even when life is life-ing and trying to steal your smile, remember it’s not the end. There’s always something to get happy about. Even in the storm, you can still receive good things.

Go with the flow:

No matter what was happening, I decided to ride the waves and paddle with (not against) the stream. I chose not to drown, even when the storm was raging. Take the position of victory and of hope, even in a chaotic world.

Mavis A. Creagh is an executive director, author, speaker, consultant, entrepreneurial strategist, columnist and online show host. She is the founder of Mavis A. Creagh Consulting LLC, Mavis on Main and We Women Ministries Inc. Reach her at maviscreaghmedia@gmail.com.

Are economic security and potential job loss concerns stressing you out? Here are some quick tips that can help you manage the uncertainty.

Prioritize self-care

Engage in activities that promote well-being, such as exercise, healthy eating, and sufficient sleep, as these have a positive impact on mental health.

Focus on what you can control

During uncertain times, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Focus on what you have control over, such as your daily routines and the steps you can take to improve your situation.

Create a plan

Develop a financial plan to manage stress and gain a sense of control. This could involve creating a budget, exploring options for debt consolidation, or researching government assistance programs.

Build a support network

Connect with friends, family, or online communities for emotional support. Don’t hesitate to ask for help when you need it.

Seek professional help

If your mental health is significantly impacted, consider seeking professional support from a therapist or counselor. Therapy can provide tools for managing emotions and coping with challenging situations.

Allow yourself to grieve

Job loss can be a significant emotional experience. Allow yourself time to grieve and process your emotions, and don’t hesitate to reach out for support during this period.

Reframe the job loss

View job loss as an opportunity for reassessment and self-discovery. Use this time to explore new career paths, develop new skills, or focus on personal interests.

988 Lifeline

If you are having thoughts of hurting yourself or others, or if you suspect someone is having suicidal ideation reach out to the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988. The line is available 24 hours a day.