I recently read a paper published February 2011 in the Psychiatric Times re bullying and its effects on adolescent suicides (written by By Anat Brunstein Klomek, PhD, Andre Sourander, MD and Madelyn S. Gould, PhD, MPH – bio’s provided below). The paper noted, “The results pertaining to bullies are less consistent. Some studies show an association ...
In mid January 2011, Tiffani Maxwell of Portersville, PA took her own life, she shot herself. According to her parents she was the target of bullying and falsehoods – the methodology included both cyber-bulling and face-to-face by her classmates. Her mother, Sandy reported that Tiffani was falsely accused of using drugs at school and was expelled. Following the expulsion she received text messages saying ‘Tiffani you’re in rehab.’ ‘You’re on drugs.’
On January 13, 2011 – Kiefer Allan, age 14, was the first of many children who took their own life during 2011 as a result of not being able to cope with the onslaught of bullying.
Bullying, Featured, News
On 2 November, I gave a talk, “Unintended Consequences” at Gnomedex. I spoke to the need to recognize that “always-on” isn’t necessarily always good. I went on to describe the train-wrecks which occur when technology which is created for good, is used in a manner, unintended. I then shared the stories of 36 young people who we lost in 2010 due to being overwhelmed, both online and off.
I had the pleasure of speaking with Chris Pirillo pre-Gnomedex about a variety of subjects, some light, some humorous and one very serious – the topic of bullying and the attendant suicides. During this discussion, I also shared my thoughts on how we as a collective society need to step up and accomplish in the immediate future. I do hope you will come and listen to my talk on the Gnomedex stage at Seattle Interactive conference on 2 November 2011 at 1400 hours (2:00pm). The presentation is titled: “Unintended Consequences”
Aiden Rivera Schaeff died one year ago today, 22 April 2010, he committed suicide. Aiden was 17 year of age, and attended Bethesda-Chevy Chase high school in Montgomery County, Maryland. According to the family’s web site, created in tribute to Aiden, Aiden entered high school “as a girl and after identifying the he felt more at piece as a boy, transitioned to his new identity whithout hiding who he was. The school authorities were extremely…
Bullying
In David Schwimmer’s TRUST, the teenage character Annie finds herself the subject of great deal of unwanted and undeserved attention by her high school classmates in a manner in which constituted to all would be unacceptable and falls within the realm of cyberbullying (as the bullying occurred using online media). We all have encountered instances where those who did not conform or who had experienced something not of the ordinary come under undo scrutiny and are isolated for the experience by their peers. The scrutiny often times manifests itself into ridicule, sarcasm or insults as those who are observing from afar attempt to differentiate and exclude themselves from the experience.
Bully Bullying Cyberbullying Bullycide – These four words continue to appear with ever greater frequency in the lexicon of the modern American family. We hear these words on the evening news, in our newspapers, and online in all forums. We live in 2011, but to see how we treat one and other from afar, you’d think perhaps the calendar had rolled back a few centuries. You see – individuals be they young or not-so-young are bullied both at school and at work. The tragedy is, our youth of today, by and large are not prepared for today’s always-on world, even though they live it 24/7. The fact that in 2010 we lost 34 children where bullying was a principal issue in their decision to end their lives speaks volumes. There were 33 who committed suicide. Then there was one young man who was killed while trying to extricate his sibling from two bullies who were pummeling his sibling, he was shot and killed. Each of them has a story, I share these…
Kudos to the American Bar Association (ABA) for amending and adopting their resolution 107A which urges “… federal, state, tribal, territorial, and local officials, to prevent and remediate the existence and dangers of bullying, including cyberbullying and youth-to-youth sexual and physical harassment.” In my view this is very much a step in the right direction…
If we are able to collectively work together, we can save a life, we can save many lives and in doing so we will demonstrate to the children, every day is worth living.
… in 2010, by my count, 30 children ranging in age from 9-19 took their own lives as they were unable to cope with the bullying which they were being subjected. These families who lost their child …
Brendan James Clarke was 14-years-old when he took his life on November 11, 2010. Brendan lived in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania and was a freshman at Stroudsburg Jr. High School.
Bullying
No doubt you are aware of the tragic loss of life which occurred in Cooperstown, North Dakota late last week, when 16 year old Cassidy Joy Andel, posted a disquieting message upon her Facebook page, “My time has come, and so I’m gone. To a better place, far beyond,” and then took her life, she ...
Samantha Kelly a 15-year-old hung herself on November 8, 2010 following months of harassment and taunting following her making rape allegations against a senior at her highschool.
BullyingBrandon Bitner was a 14-year-old straight-A freshman student at Midd West High School in Middleburg, Pennsylvania. He wrote a suicide note to his family “I’m sure that when I’m gone, you’ find the strength not to let this happen to anyone else.”
BullyingCassidy Andel was a 16-year-old from Cooperstown, North Dakota who hung herself at her home on November 4, 2010.
BullyingJesse Buchsbaum was a 17-year-old 11th grade student at Boyerton Area High School (Boyerton, Pennsylvania)whose parents say, bullying led to their son committing suicide on October 25, 2010. Jesse was learning disabled and according to his mother, Louise Buchsbaum, he was slow. She said, “The kids would pick on him because he didn’t have a lot of ...
BullyingJamarcus Bell was a 14-year-old who lived in Fishers, Indiana and attended Hamilton Southeastern High School. He was a freshman at Hamilton and according to his friends, he committed suicide on October 20, 2010. Jamarcus aka “Bucko” was a baseball player and a member of the schools step team. He was also gay. His parents and friends say he was bullied at school.
BullyingCorey Jackson, 19 years of age, sophomore at Oakland University in Michigan took his own life on 19 October 2010.
BullyingJordan Binion, a 17-year-old high school senior at Graham Kapowsin High School in Graham, Washington. Friends say that he was tormented and bullied to the point of feeling helpless. According to Seattle’s KOMO-TV, Jordan was tormented by students at his school and got into a fight off school campus. Following the altercation, a text message making fun ...
BullyingCaleb Nolt was a 14-year-old freshman at North Side High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana, who passed on September 20, 2010. Caleb enjoyed spending time with his girlfriend and attending church with her. He and his twin brother, according to the obituary, would talk late into the night. But Caleb was bullied at school for his manner of dress.
BullyingZach Harrington, 19 years old took his life own life at his family’s Norman, Oklahoma home on October 5, 2010.
BullyingAuthor, Speaker, Humanitarian, Leader, Senior Security Advisor
My focus is on Safety, Security, Intelligence, Intellectual Property and Humanitarian issues.
I place particular emphasis on the protection of both the young and the elderly of our society.
You may contact me directly via:
Christopher@BurgessCT.com
