AVON, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Although not everyone may be a victim of bullying or a bully themselves,
people oftentimes overlook the third person involved in a bullying
situation: the witness or bystander. Research suggests that
approximately two out of every three children have witnessed bullying,
and with the advent of cyberbullying, that number continues to grow
rapidly. The bystander has an opportunity to intervene to help resolve a
conflict, or at least prevent it from escalating. A study published by
the Canadian Journal of Psychology found that once a bystander
stepped in to help the target of bullying, the behavior stopped within
10 seconds. However, simply witnessing a bullying event also can have
mental health consequences for the bystander that can last beyond the
incident itself.
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.
Intervening in a Bullying Situation
An important new strategy for bullying prevention focuses on the
powerful role of the bystander. Those witnessing a bullying event must
first evaluate the safety of the situation: if there are weapons
involved or other threats of physical harm, the bystander should notify
a professional to intervene. Otherwise, bystanders can help by:
-
Telling the bully that what he or she is doing is wrong
-
Inviting the victim to leave the situation with them
-
Not laughing or otherwise encouraging the bully
-
Talking to the victim in private and sharing their support
-
Speaking to the bully about why their behavior isn't appropriate
-
Including the victim in their activities and/or helping them avoid
other potential bullying situations
-
Avoiding spreading rumors about what happened
"When it comes to bullying, there is power in numbers," said Victor
Schwartz, M.D., medical director for The Jed Foundation. "The bully is
often harassing the victim to demonstrate power and entertain the
bystanders. If those bystanders laugh or encourage the bully, the
situation is likely to continue. However, if the bystanders are
sympathetic to the victim, then the bully loses influence and his or her
reason for bullying. Therefore, it's important for bystanders to
recognize the power they have to stop the bullying situation and make it
known that this type of behavior is not acceptable."
The Mental Health Impact on Bullying Bystanders
Research has documented a number of mental health effects for both
bullies and bullying victims, however, witnesses to bullying may also
suffer similar mental health consequences. Just like witnessing an act
of violence, seeing someone being bullied can be a traumatic experience,
or can remind a person of other personally traumatic experiences.
Additionally, many bystanders feel a sense of guilt or regret for not
intervening on behalf of a bullying victim.
A 2009 study in the United Kingdom surveyed 2,000 students and found
that nearly two-thirds of the students had witnessed bullying, 20
percent admitted they had been a bully themselves, and 34 percent
indicated they had been a victim of bullying. Witnesses were more likely
to exhibit the same mental health issues as bullies and victims, such as
depression and interpersonal sensitivity, and were more likely than
victims to engage in substance abuse.
"Bullying impacts all of us, whether we're actively participating or
simply witnessing a bullying event," said Gary Henschen, M.D., chief
medical officer for behavioral health at Magellan. "We have to be
mindful that people who witness bullying might be hurting, too, or may
have difficulty dealing with the emotions of what they have experienced.
It's more important than ever that we establish rules of respect and
tolerance within our communities and online. When bullying happens, we
all lose."
"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.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=50270589&lang=en
Magellan Health Services Inc.
Media Contact:
Chris
Pearsall, 860-507-1923
CMPearsall@MagellanHealth.com
Source: Magellan Health Services Inc.
News Provided by Acquire Media
