These strategies just might save a life.
Bullying can be a serious problem for any child, but for children with a medical challengesuch as epilepsy, the risk is increased. Knowing the facts about bullying is the first step toward preventing victimization of children and teens with epilepsy or other medical conditions, and keeping them safe.
What exactly is bullying, and how does it affect the children involved? Bullying consists of aggressive behaviors that are repeated over time and involve an abuse of power by the perpetrator. It may take the form of verbal or physical abuse, or, especially for girls, cyberbullying through social media. The child who bullies learns how to use power and aggression to control and distress another, and the child who is victimized learns about losing power and becoming trapped in an abusive relationship. The lessons for both parties are clearly destructive. Contrary to what some people may think, bullying is not a normal part of healthy adolescent development and the suffering it causes may start early and last a lifetime.
As all too many parents know, the negative consequences of bullying and peer rejection may be quite serious. Compared to their peers, bullied children more often avoid school, perform poorly in their academic work, abuse drugs or alcohol, and think about suicide. In fact, teenage victims of bullying are five times more likely to be depressed, and far more likely to be suicidal, than their non-bullied peers. Since suicide is the third leading cause of death among adolescents in the U.S., this is indeed a very serious concern.
Why is the risk for bullying increased for children and teens with epilepsy and other medical conditions? Various factors may be involved, including depression, anxiety, challenges with impulse control or social isolation. If the child is prone to having seizures at school, or has other physical or intellectual disabilities, then the risk for bullying may be even greater. Recognizing that bullying might be taking place and taking action immediately is critical to protecting a child’s basic human right to be respected and safe.
Once the topic of bullying is out in the open, then the important adults in the child’s life may work together to resolve the problem. Direct conversation with the teacher or principal is an important step, so that the bullying at school can be stopped immediately. And to keep the bullying at bay, some schools are employing innovative new tools such as StandUp, a three-session, online, computer-based bullying-prevention program designed to help high school students develop skills for relating to others in healthy, non-violent ways.
School-based programs like StandUp teach teens to treat themselves and others with respect, avoid being a bully, get help if they are a victim of bullying and stand up to stop bulling when they see it occurring. Initial research on such programs has shown significant improvement in students’ healthy relationship skills, resulting in a safer, more respectful environment.
Reaching out to a child at risk for bullying may prevent untold emotional pain and suffering, and perhaps even save a life. The good news is that with open communication and modern bullying-prevention techniques, we can work together to protect our children and teens from victimization.
