.. Media Report AMA asks physicians to help
reduce bullying behavior June 19, 2002
In an unprecedented report,
the AMA House of Delegates this week called on physicians to help reduce
bullying behavior among children by being heedful for signs that young
patients are being bullied and working with parents, teachers and others
to solve the problem.
The delegates adopted a report
by the AMA's Council on Scientific Affairs (CSA) that reviewed bullying
among U.S. children and adolescents. Some of the recommendations in the
CSA report include: that the AMA recognize bullying as a complex and abusive
behavior with potentially serious social and mental health consequences;
that the AMA work with appropriate federal agencies, medical societies,
mental health organizations, schools and youth organizations in a national
campaign to change attitudes about bullying; and that the AMA urge parents
and caretakers to be involved in children's school and other activities.
"Without intervention, bullying
can lead to serious academic, social, emotional and legal problems," the
CSA report states. "Studies of successful anti-bullying programs are scarce
in the U.S. but . adopting a comprehensive approach in schools can change
student behaviors and attitudes and increase adults' willingness to intervene."
The report says physicians should ask about bullying when young patients
have unexplained psychosomatic and behavioral symptoms, and when patients
express thoughts of suicide or self-harm, or begin using tobacco, alcohol
or other drugs.
"It is crucial that physicians
take a leadership role in helping their young patients deal with this problem,"
said AMA Trustee Ronald Davis, MD. "Too many children are being terrorized
at school or on the playground and remaining silent about it."
AMA Report - MA - AMA calls on physicians
to help reduce bullying
Report finds young patients often have no one to confide in when
they are being bullied For immediate release - June 19, 2002
CHICAGO - The American MediCal
Association House of Delegates called on physicians today to help reduce
bullying behavior among children by being vigilant for signs that young
patients are being bullied and working with parents, teachers and others
to solve the problem.
The delegates adopted a report
by the AMA's Council on Scientific Affairs that reviewed bullying among
U.S. children and adolescents. It found that bullies represent 7 to 15
percent of sampled school-age populations and victims represent about 10
percent. Between 2 and 10 percent of students are both bullies and victims.
In elementary schools, more boys than girls are involved in bullying; however,
the gender difference decreases in junior high and high school, and social
bullying among girls - manipulation done to harm acceptance into a group
- becomes harder to detect.
"Without intervention, bullying
can lead to serious academic, social, emotional and legal problems,"
the CSA report states. "Studies of successful anti-bullying programs are
scarce in the United States but . adopting a comprehensive approach in
schools can change student behaviors and attitudes and increase adults'
willingness to intervene."
The report defined bullying
as behavior that involves a pattern of repeated aggression, deliberate
intent to harm or disturb a victim despite apparent victim distress
and a real or perceived imbalance of power (e.g., due to age, strength,
size) with the more powerful child or group attacking a physically or psychologically
vulnerable victim.
Some of the recommendations
in the CSA report include:
The AMA recognize bullying as a
complex and abusive behavior with potentially serious social and mental
health consequences;
The AMA work with appropriate federal
agencies, medical societies, mental health organizations, schools, youth
organizations and others ina national campaign to change attitudes
about bullying;
The AMA advocate federal support
to implement programs that effectively prevent or reduce bullying; develop
clinical tools for identifying and treating patients traumatized by bullying;
and uncover biological and environmental causes of aggressive and violent
behavior;
Physicians should enhance their
awareness of the social and mental health consequences of bullying;
be vigilant for signs of bullying in young patients; screen for psychiatric
symptoms in at-risk patients; counsel affected patients and their families;
and advocate for programs to
treat perpetrators and victims of bullying;
The AMA urge parents and caretakers
to be involved in children's school and other activities. Parents and caretakers
also should be encouraged to build supportive home environments, as well
as teach children how to interact socially, resolve conflicts, deal with
frustration and cope with anger and stress.
The report notes that bullying
often is hidden from adults who might intervene because children, afraid
that bullies will intensify the abuse, often remain silent. Children
need to be educated about the importance of reporting bullying, and parents,
teachers and health care professionals need to become better at identifying
current or potential victims. The report says physicians should ask
about bullying when young patients have unexplained psychosomatic and behavioral
symptoms, and when patients express
thoughts of suicide or self-harm
, or begin using tobacco, alcohol or other drugs.
"It is crucial that physicians
take a leadership role in helping their young patients deal with this problem,"
said AMA Trustee
Ronald
Davis, MD, a public health physician in East Lansing, Mich.
"Too many children
are being terrorized at school or on the playground and remaining silent
about it."
The CSA report was based on extracted
and analyzed data published from
1985 to 2002 in several databases,
journal articles, reports and textbooks. Additional information was gleaned
from federal agencies, medical specialty societies, mental health and other
professional organizations, and recognized researchers in the field.
For more information or a copy
of the CSA report, please contact:
HEAR JARED'S VOICE
- PLAY - From
an interview with Pasco School District investagators concerning the assault.
This is a recording of a recording and it isn't real clear, but worth the
download effort. Jared had a real mellow voice.
Note: If you have a slow load wav, wait for it to load entirely and then
play again from the start. 5 minutes long.
