By Becki Cohn-Vargas, Not In Our School [1] Director
Some of the best intentions to get students to stop bullying by hammering in the risk of suicide may indeed be driving youth to take their lives. In our blog, “Bullying and Suicide: Clarifying Misconceptions [2]," we addressed common misconceptions surrounding bullying and suicide. Here we explore how students, educators and the media can be part of the solution and help make our schools safe and inclusive for all.
Students
Students can become more informed on bullying and suicide. In many schools, diverse leaders from across student populations can promote kindness and speak out against bullying, while refraining from making heroes and glorifying those who have died by suicide. Some examples include students who mapped their schools to find out where bullying takes place [3], organized class discussions on race, presented to faculty meetings, and planned campaigns, pledges, and community service activities to create a safer environment [4].
By having youth take the lead, students can create empathy while helping their classmates learn to recognize signs of depression and mental illness in themselves and their peers. They can learn where to go for help, like approaching an adult if they fear a student is sinking into depression. They can reach out to those who have been bullied and assure them they are not alone.
Educators
While it is incumbent on educators to provide a bullying prevention policy [5] and clear guidelines on preventing and responding to bullying, it is also important to take precautions with regard to suicide.
Programs like Mental Health First Aid [6] teach everyone in a school community and the general public how to understand, recognize, and respond to signs of mental illness. This training aims to be like a CPR course, giving people tools to take action when they see red flags. It also aims to remove the stigma of mental illness that causes many youth to resist getting help when they feel depressed.
Educators can also help by decoupling conversations about bullying and suicide. Bullying is devastating enough without highlighting it as the cause of suicide. And when students make short films or write skits, they can warn them in advance, explaining why those that dramatize suicides will not be shown.
Educators can inform students and colleagues that an upstander is someone who speaks up and stands up for him or herself and others. They can provide them with tools and knowledge to take positive action. The goal is to take action when someone is being harmed or bullied, or when they notice a person is isolated, depressed or upset.
Media
Research on the impact of media coverage and suicide contagion [7] has shown that when appropriate reporting recommendations [8] are followed, imitative suicide behavior can be decreased. These suggestions include intentional messaging that avoids headlines and detailed descriptions of methods of suicide as well as presenting stories with factual information that does not sound like a crime drama. When a serious bullying incident or suicide incident occurs, media should avoid speculation or having random people make unsubstantiated statements on why it happened. This also precludes interviewing friends or classmates who speculate on causes.
Also, the media can provide factual information on suicide and bullying drawn from research and provide contact numbers for people to get help for themselves or others. The media can refrain from using dramatic language like “epidemic” or “skyrocketing” and eliciting pity for the person who has died while demonizing and blaming others.
We All Can Take A Stand in Turning the Tide of Suicide and Bullying
Whether it is sensationalized news coverage, dramatizations in movies or even student-made films, a single life lost due to careless coverage is a terrible tragedy. For that reason, Not In Our School aims to use careful messaging based on guidelines from experts and researchers.
We have included some very important sources of information below so youth, educators, and the media can get the facts and incorporate them into bullying and suicide prevention efforts. If all of us take these simple steps, we can and will save lives.
Becki Cohn-Vargas, Ed. D. is currently the director of Not In Our School [1] (NIOS). She has spoken on the subject of how to combat bullying at conferences, schools, and universities across the United States. Becki’s new book,“Identity Safe Classrooms: Places to Belong and Learn [9],” co-authored with Dr. Dorothy Steele was published by Corwin Press. Prior to working at The Working Group, she spent over 35 years in public education in California.
Start an anti-bullying campaign in your school [10] and get videos and resources straight to you inbox [11].
Additional Resources
“Stop Saying Bullying Causes Suicide,” [12] by Deborah Temkin in the Huffington Post
“The Complicated Relationships Between Bullying and Suicide” [13] by David Bond in The Advocate
American Foundation for Suicide Prevention [14] and their information guide, Talking About LGBT Suicide [15]
Curriculum
Mental Health First Aid Youth Curriculum [16]
Crisis Intervention and Hot Lines [18]
Covenant House "9-line"
1-800-999-9999
24 Hours/7 Days A Week
A general hotline for teens with any kind of problem; Covenant House's expertise is in dealing with homeless and runaway youth. The people who respond to phone calls are trained in crisis intervention, as well as the ability to direct the caller to the appropriate organization or program.
Boys Town Hotline
1-800-448-3000
24 Hours/7 Days A Week
Highly trained professionals answer your questions regarding problems such as counseling, runaways, family and school problems, pregnancy, suicide, chemical dependency, sexual and physical abuse.
National Runaway Hotline
1-800-621-4000
24 Hours/7 Days A Week
Depression, Mental Illness and Addictions
Crisislink
1-800-SUICIDE
24 Hours/7 Days A Week
Regent Hospital
1-800-LIFENET
24 Hours/7 Days A Week
An information and referral service.
National Mental Health Association
1-800-969-NMHA
24 Hours/7 Days A Week
Practical information for teens, including free pamphlets on various mental health topics and referrals to mental health centers, hotlines and treatment facilities throughout the United States. NMHA's website also offers various fact sheets for parents and children on everything from depression to school safety.
1-800-ALCOHOL
24 Hours/7 Days A Week
Information and referrals by trained staff.
Child Help USA
1-800-422-4453
24 Hours/7 Days A Week
A national child abuse hotline that provides referrals and information to the victims of domestic violence, sexual abuse, and the suicidal.
RAINN (Rape Abuse and Incest National Network)
24 Hours/7 Days A Week
1-800-656-HOPE