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Bullying and Suicide: A Better Understanding

• Imbalance of Power

• Intentionally hurtful

• Repeated behavior

What Is Bullying?The major components of bullying include:

Power is the

How is it different from everyday conflict?

Bullying can take many forms…

It can be indirect:• Social (Exclusion, Rumors, etc.)• Cyber-bullying• Hate speech, stereotyping, or

demeaning comments

It can be direct:• Physical • Verbal

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What is Suicide?

Suicide is an attempt to solve a problem of intense emotional pain with impaired problem-solving skills.1

1. Kalafat, J. & Underwood, M. Making Educators Partners in Suicide Prevention. Lifelines: A School-Based Youth Suicide Prevention Initiative. Society for the Prevention of Teen Suicide. http://spts.pldm.com/

DespairUnlovedLied toHelpless

Why Are Individuals Suicidal?

Coping mechanism

Best solution

Triggering event w/predisposition

Really want help living

Serious Attempt or Death by Suicide

Those Who Desire Suicide

Theory

Source: Joiner, T.E. (2005). Why people die by suicide. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

PerceivedBurdensomeness

Thwarted Belongingness

Those Who Are Capable of

Suicide

Feelings of hopelessness and despair

Completed suicide

Thoughts that life is not worth living

Passive wish to die

Suicidal ideation

Suicidal plans

Suicidal attempts

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Risk Factors Survivors search for

Need

Why?

Knowledge= people + information

You can never make the same mistake twice…

Because the second time is not a mistake…it’s a

What the Research Says• Being bullied is a risk factor• Being a bully is a risk factor• The majority of those bullied never die

BUT….

What does research say

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Correlation

CAUSATION • Highest Risk• Suicide

• Violence• Substance

Abuse• School Issues

• Social Issues• Poor School

Performance

• Trauma• Depression• Anxiety

Victim Witness

Bully-VictimBully

Risk for Suicidal Thinking in all groups!

10-18 Year OldsHow do we help?

How do we help our youth make the choice to live whether “bullied” or “bullies”?

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The key to change is ready to be unlocked in our youth!

The “bullies” and “bullied”

Research

“Connection is why we are here.

We are hardwired to connect with Others”Brene Brown

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Remember, there is no virtue in tolerating toxic behavior.

What matters most is how you see yourself!

The IMPORTANCE of Doing Something

“Everything you do will seem insignificant,but it is very important that you do it.

~Gandhi

“Called me at home”

“Talk to me at school to encourage

me”

“Listen to me”

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COMMUNITY RESOURCES

Seek out your local Crisis Center

Community Resource

www.knowresolve.org

National Resources

http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

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National Resources

Children’s Safety Network

www.ChildrensSafetyNetwork.org

Youth Suicide and Self-Harm Prevention:2017 Resource Guide

National Resource

American Association of Suicidologyhttp://www.suicidoloy.org/web/guest/home

National Resources

Youth Suicide Prevention School-Based Guide

http://theguide.fmhi.usf.edu/Suicide Prevention Resource Center

http://www.sprc.org/

National Resources

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What Questions Do You Have? Paradigms power perception and perceptions power emotions.

Most emotions are responses to perception – what you think, is true about a given situation. If your perception is false, then

your emotional response to it will be false too. So check your perceptions, and beyond that check the truthfulness of your

paradigms – what you believe. Just because you believe something firmly doesn’t make it true.

Be willing to reexamine what you believe.

The Shack, William P. Young

Thank You!

Nancy Buyle M.A., LPC, NCCSchool Safety/Student Assistance Consultant

Macomb Intermediate School Districtnbuyle@misd.net