12 Jan Boy’s Personal Experience Shows Need for Preventing Bullying in Teens
According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, more than 1 in 4 students, grades 6-12, have experienced bullying. Furthermore, bullying has expanded. It’s no longer confined to face-to-face interactions–now it can be anonymous through online harassment, giving it a whole new platform to wreak havoc on. Preventing bullying in teens efforts have tapered off, but more awareness needs to be spread to really reach a solution.
The effects of bullying can be long-lasting, sometimes even following children into adulthood and through the rest of their lives. For one young boy, his message of how damaging it can be went viral.
A viral message about why preventing bullying in teens needs attention
To begin, he had asked her to pick him up early from school because he was afraid–once again–to eat lunch at school. After having milk poured on him and ham shoved into his clothes, he thought it time to say something about it. In the video, he describes how they bully him and asks parents and others to take action on preventing bullying in teens: “They make fun of my nose…call me ugly. They say I have no friends…Why do they bully? What’s the point of it? Why do you find joy in taking innocent people and finding a way to be mean to them? People that are different don’t need to be criticized about it. It’s not their fault…If you are made fun of, just don’t let it bother you. Stay strong, I guess. It’ll probably get better one day.” After going viral, hundreds sent in their support. Celebrities like Chris Evans, Millie Bobby Brown, and Mark Hamill tweeted words of encouragement to Keaton. Chris Evans’ tweet read: “Stay strong, Keaton. Don’t let them make you turn cold. I promise it gets better. While those punks at your school are deciding what kind of people they want to be in this world, how would you and your mom like to come to the Avengers premiere in LA next year?” We’d like to think Keaton’s experience is an outlier, but it’s not. He’s not one of the few. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, between 25-33 percent of students have directly experienced bullying. While awareness of bullying has been steadily increasing, the issue still remains. It continues to permeate school halls–and now the internet as well. Schools not only have to take action, but parents do too. Without spreading the word and educating our children in and outside of school, real change will not happen. If you believe your son or daughter is struggling with bullying or other issues, it’s critical to seek out a professional for further guidance. ViewPoint Center is a teen assessment center, ages 12 to 17. At ViewPoint Center, we provide treatment through superior assessment, diagnosis, treatment, and stabilization–all in a personalized environment for your child in crisis. Our goal is to help your child through this hard time. Before ViewPoint, families are often frustrated and lost. Varying doctors and therapists with a range of advice, diagnoses, and plans leaves parents and children unsure of where to turn. At ViewPoint, we centralize all of the different diagnoses, and create a comprehensive report for you and your family to get back on track. Let us help you. For more information about how we go about preventing bullying in teens at ViewPoint Center, contact us today at 801-825-5222. 
Keaton, a young boy, got in his mother’s car from school and asked her to record a video of him.A sad story, but not uncommon
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