AVON, Conn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
As a society, we’ve become more aware of bullying as a devastating form
of abuse that can have long-terms effects on victims, negatively
impacting their self-esteem, isolating them from their peers and in more
serious cases, leading to depression, anxiety, substance abuse and
sometimes suicide. Studies estimate that as many as 160,000 students may
stay home on any given day because they’re afraid of being bullied and
the emotional pain they’ve caused. With the prevalence of cyberbullying,
even more youth and young adults are finding themselves to be a victim
of bullying.
May is National Mental Health Awareness Month and Magellan Health
Services is calling attention to mental health and bullying for its
second annual Take
Mental Health To Heart campaign. Magellan has partnered with The
Jed Foundation, the nation’s leading organization working to promote
emotional health and prevent suicide among college students and young
adults, to raise awareness about the mental health effects of bullying
and encourage people to take responsibility for building a bully-free
community. Throughout the month, Magellan and The Jed Foundation will
share information about bullying from the perspective of the victim, the
bully, parents and bystanders.
Bullying Comes in Many Forms
There are many types of bullying, all of which can be equally harmful
emotionally and physically to the victim. Bullying may be verbal, when
the bully uses derogatory or mocking words to attack the victim; social,
when a bully or bullies isolate the victim from a social group or cause
damage to the victim’s reputation; or physical, when a bully actually
hurts the victim’s body or possessions. A recent study by the U.S.
National Institutes of Health found that victims of cyberbullying, an
increasingly popular form of bullying that involves the use of Internet,
texting and social media to harm and intimidate others, showed more
signs of depression than other bullying victims.
“Regardless of one’s age, bullying can take a tremendous hit to a
person’s mental health, and some bullying survivors can carry the
experience into adulthood,” says Gary Henschen, M.D., chief medical
officer for behavioral health at Magellan. “Victims are more likely to
suffer from anxiety disorders and depression, and these disorders can
also cause difficulties with the victims’ family, friends and co-workers
in their future.”
“Cyberbullying is one of the most challenging aspects of bullying we’ve
ever had to deal with, and it continues to evolve,” said Victor
Schwartz, M.D., medical director for The Jed Foundation. “It used to be
that bullying was confined to the playground, but now youth can be
bullied even from the safety of home, and it’s out there for everyone to
see. As adults, we need to model good online behavior and play a more
active role in curbing the use of social media and mobile technology
among youth for bullying.”
Though we often think of school-aged children when we hear the word,
“bullying”, it can also occur between adults through workplace bullying.
This can include verbal abuse, offensive conduct, and/or non-verbal
behaviors which are threatening, humiliating or intimidating. In some
instances, these actions may even become illegal.
Watching for the Warning Signs and Creating a Safer Environment
For those falling victim to bullying, the effects can be devastating.
Youth who are bullied are more likely to experience:
-
Depression and anxiety, increased feelings of sadness and loneliness,
changes in sleep and eating patterns, loss of interest in activities
they used to enjoy, and physical health complaints - Decreased academic achievement and school participation
-
Fear of riding the bus, visiting the school bathroom and being alone
in school hallways - Suicidal thoughts
“Any sudden and unexplained change in behavior could be a sign that a
youth is being bullied,” said Henschen. “It may be more subtle in
adolescents and young adults compared to younger children, but the
reactions can vary from acting out to becoming more reserved. It’s very
important to have an ongoing dialogue about bullying and create a safe
place where youth feel they can work through their feelings and
experiences.”
There are ways everyone can help to prevent bullying. Steps you can take
include:
-
Helping your school or work community create a pledge promising that
bullying in any form is unacceptable -
Encouraging members of your community to call out bullying when they
see it—sometimes bullies don’t realize they’re bullying -
Designating an adult or leader as the go-to person for confidential
help when someone is the victim of bullying -
Outlining expectations for respect and acceptance of others in your
community -
If you’re a parent, talk to your children about bullying, and set
expectations for the kinds of behaviors that are not acceptable inside
or outside the home
“Planting the Seed” to Stop Bullying
On www.TakeMentalHealthToHeart.com,
visitors can learn more about how bullying impacts the victim,
bystanders and the bully; find helpful information for parents; take a
screener for depression; and discover a variety of other links and
resources. Visitors are also encouraged to leave a comment by “planting
a virtual seed” on the website that they can share with friends and
family to raise awareness about the impact of bullying. As individuals
share their pledge to end bullying with others, their virtual seed will
grow into a “tree” representing the expansive network of people they
have reached with their message. For every virtual seed planted during
the month of May, Magellan will donate $5 to The Jed Foundation, up to
$25,000.
To learn more about bullying and the Take Mental Health To Heart
Campaign, visit www.TakeMentalHealthToHeart.com.
About The Jed Foundation: The
Jed Foundation (TJF) is the nation’s leading organization working to
promote emotional health and prevent suicide among college students. TJF
materials and tools are available to all colleges and universities
throughout the United States. Founded in 2000 by parents who lost a son
to suicide while he was attending college, the organization has
developed several programs, which include: ULifeline, an online resource
that gives students access to campus-specific resources and allows them
to take an anonymous emotional health screening; the Peabody
Award-winning Half of Us campaign with mtvU, which uses online, on-air
and on campus programming to decrease stigma around mental illness and
encourage help-seeking; Love is Louder, a movement online and in
communities to build connectedness and increase resiliency; and a
portfolio of nationally-recognized tools, resources and training
programs that help campuses effectively promote mental health and
protect at-risk students. Learn more by visiting www.jedfoundation.org,
www.ulifeline.org,
www.halfofus.com,
or www.loveislouder.com.
About Magellan Health Services:
Headquartered in Avon, Conn., Magellan Health Services Inc. is a leading
specialty health care management organization with expertise in managing
behavioral health, radiology and specialty pharmaceuticals, as well as
public sector pharmacy benefits programs. Magellan delivers innovative
solutions to improve quality outcomes and optimize the cost of care for
those we serve. As of March 31, 2012, Magellan’s customers include
health plans, employers and government agencies, serving approximately
33.8 million members in our behavioral health business, 16.1 million
members in our radiology benefits management segment, and 6.2 million
members in our medical pharmacy management product. In addition, the
specialty pharmaceutical segment served 41 health plans and several
pharmaceutical manufacturers and state Medicaid programs. The company’s
Medicaid Administration segment served 24 states and the District of
Columbia. For more information, visit www.MagellanHealth.com.
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