BULLYING IS at “epidemic” proportions in schools, causing suicide, drug addiction and alcoholism among teenagers and young people, according to Jeremy Prince, father of teenager Phoebe Prince, who killed herself as a result of severe bullying in the US in 2010.
Mr Prince, who lives in Co Clare, was in Dublin yesterday to support the National Anti-Bullying Coalition’s Safe Schools programme.
“If the programme had been in place in the school in the United States I think we would still have our daughter,” he said.
The programme involves all members of the school being aware of the existence of bullying, its impact and how to support victims – both to cope and recover and for perpetrators to recognise the damage inflicted and address the reasons for their behaviour.
Phoebe Prince (15) hanged herself at her family home in western Massachusetts in January 2010 after suffering ongoing bullying by six pupils at the secondary school she attended. The bullying had started after Phoebe started seeing the boyfriend of one of her tormentors.
She had moved to live in the United States with her mother and four siblings in 2009.
Mr Prince said the response of schools to bullying episodes “very much varies from school to school”. He called for a uniform approach where victims could speak about their situation, confident that it would be addressed.
Also yesterday, the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) announced its inaugural anti-bullying week.
The society is encouraging people to purchase a “blue shield” badge to indicate they are concerned about bullying and want to see it addressed.
Chief executive Ashley Balbirnie said the campaign was as much about what bullying was not as it was about what it was.
“It is not a normal part of childhood. It is not a rite of passage. It is not acceptable.
“It is a critical issue, the impact of which can be detrimental to a young person’s wellbeing. It can negatively affect self-esteem and feelings of self-worth, increase social isolation, lead a child to become withdrawn and depressed, anxious and insecure. In desperation some young people even consider suicide.”
Caroline O’Sullivan, director of services, said it was as important to support the perpetrators of bullying as it was the victims.
“The reality is children who bully are hurting in some way themselves, and it’s important to get those children to talk about what’s going on for them too.”
The ISPCC bullying support line is available 24 hours a day for the week to April 30th on 1800-666677.
