"What I do know is that I am permanently altered forever." -- Mia Kirshner, Grade Three: Rise of The Order
Do not remain silent. Silence helps nobody; it is a deaf ear to someone's pain. What connects us is this very human, very basic need to be heard, respected and loved.
Recent stories of teen suicides have brought this crisis of bullying to light. Now, finally, it's time for all of us to take action. Sadly, this issue is not new but as the recent press coverage proves, harassment remains a central threat to the self-image of kids in school. National Association of School Psychologists, in Bethesda, Maryland, states that each day, about 160,000 American kids skip school because they're afraid of bullies. A national survey by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), in Washington, D.C. shows that about one-third have been involved in bullying. It needs to stop.
Bullies often target those who can't fight back. We all must speak up and out to help those who have lost their voice and are unable to defend themselves against their tormentors.
Here's how you can do your part:
- Sign this petition by STOMP OUT BULLYING to mandate that the country has standardized legislation mandating schools to not only enforce a "No Tolerance" policy against bullying and cyber bullying -- but also to get involved and help the students that are being harassed.
If you know someone who is thinking about suicide, speak to a responsible adult and get that person the help that they need.
If you are thinking about suicide, talk to a relative, school administrator, guidance counselor, a teacher, religious leader or another responsible adult. You are never alone. People care.
The Trevor Project: A national 24-hour, toll free confidential suicide hotline for gay and questioning youth.
Teen Suicide Hotlines: 1800-784-2433 (1800-Suicide) or 1800-273-8255 (1800-273-Talk).
There may be moments when the pain seems unbearable. Life fixed forever. But there's always the hope of a better tomorrow. For as Anne Frank so poignantly wrote, "I don't think of all the misery, but of the beauty that still remains."
There is still so much living left for these young people to do.