As a parent or guardian, it’s crucial to provide support and guidance to help your teen navigate this challenging situation. This article will explore practical strategies to help your teen if they’re being bullied for their speech, empowering them to overcome adversity and thrive.

Seek Professional Support

Speech bullying refers to targeting and teasing individuals based on their accent, stuttering, speech impediments, or other speech-related differences. It can occur in various settings, such as school, social gatherings, or online platforms.

The emotional and psychological effects of speech bullying can be severe, causing feelings of isolation, shame, and reluctance to communicate. Parents must recognize the signs and take appropriate steps to support their teens.

Consider seeking professional support to help your teen overcome the challenges associated with speech bullying. Speech therapists can provide techniques and strategies to improve speech clarity, fluency or manage speech-related anxiety. A paediatric speech pathologist can also work with your teen to develop practical communication skills, including assertiveness and self-advocacy. Additionally, school counselors or psychologists can offer emotional support and guidance to navigate the psychological impact of bullying.

Educate Yourself

Educate yourself about speech-related issues and their impact on your teen’s daily life. Understand common speech differences, such as stuttering or speech impediments, and the challenges they may present. By educating yourself, you can empathize with your teen’s experiences and provide appropriate support. Seek professional resources, connect with speech therapists, and join support groups to expand your knowledge and network.

Advocate for change within your teen’s school or community to raise awareness about speech bullying and promote inclusivity. Engage with school administrators, teachers, and parent-teacher associations to discuss the issue and implement anti-bullying programs or initiatives. Encourage schools to provide education on speech-related differences and foster an environment of acceptance and respect. Collaborate with other parents and community organizations to organize workshops, guest speakers, or awareness campaigns that address speech bullying.

Create a Safe and Supportive Environment

Start by creating a safe and supportive environment at home where your teen feels comfortable discussing their experiences. Encourage open dialogue and active listening, allowing them to express their emotions without judgment. Let them know that you are there to support and understand their struggles. Reassure them that being bullied for their speech does not define their worth and that their unique qualities should be celebrated.

Help your teen build their self-esteem and resilience by focusing on their strengths and achievements. Encourage them to participate in activities they enjoy and excel in, such as sports, arts, or hobbies. These experiences can boost their confidence and provide a sense of accomplishment outside their speech-related struggles. Celebrate their successes and remind them of their unique qualities and talents.

Support your teen to develop a positive mindset and foster self-acceptance. Emphasize that their speech does not determine their worth and encourage them to embrace their unique qualities. Teach them positive affirmations and visualization techniques to enhance self-confidence. Encourage self-care activities that promote their overall well-being, such as exercise, hobbies, and creative outlets. Remind them they have the strength to overcome challenges and that their voice matters.

Encourage Open Communication

Encourage your teen to share their experiences of being bullied for their speech. Be patient and understanding, allowing them to express their feelings without interruption. Listening attentively and empathetically validates their emotions and fosters a sense of trust. Assure them that their experiences are valid and that you are committed to finding solutions together.

Assist your teen in developing positive social connections with peers who value and appreciate them for who they are. Engaging in extracurricular activities, clubs, or groups related to their interests can provide opportunities to meet like-minded individuals who will support and uplift them. Encourage participation in speech-related support groups or online communities where they can connect with others who have similar experiences. Building a supportive network can provide a sense of belonging and counteract the negative impact of bullying.

Foster Empathy and Understanding

Promote empathy and understanding in your teen by helping them develop a broader perspective on differences. Let them explore books, movies, or documentaries that highlight diverse experiences, including speech-related ones. Engaging in conversations about empathy, acceptance, and the harmful effects of bullying can help them develop compassion for others and cultivate a more inclusive mindset.

Teach your teen effective coping strategies to deal with bullying incidents. Teach them to develop assertiveness skills, enabling them to respond confidently and assert their boundaries when confronted with negative comments or teasing.

Role-playing and practicing assertive communication can be beneficial in building their confidence. Teach them relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing or mindfulness, to manage stress and anxiety triggered by bullying situations. When needed, motivate them to seek support from trusted friends, teachers, or school counselors.

Monitor and Address Online Bullying

In today’s digital age, cyberbullying has become prevalent. Monitor your teen’s online presence and educate them about safe internet practices. Tell them to report cyberbullying and block or unfollow individuals who engage in negative behavior. Teach them to use privacy settings effectively and remind them that they have the right to disconnect from toxic online environments. If necessary, involve school authorities or law enforcement to address severe cases of online bullying.

Document instances of speech bullying, including dates, times, locations, and individuals involved. This documentation can serve as evidence if school authorities’ intervention or legal actions are necessary. Involve the school administration or guidance counselors to address the bullying incidents promptly. Collaborate with them to develop an action plan to ensure your teen’s safety and well-being within the school environment.

Bullying based on speech differences can have a detrimental impact on a teenager’s self-esteem and overall well-being. As a parent or guardian, you must provide unwavering support, guidance, and resources to help your teen navigate these challenging situations.

By creating a safe and supportive environment, educating yourself, promoting empathy, teaching coping strategies, and advocating for change, you can empower your teen to overcome speech bullying and thrive. Remember that your role as a parent or guardian is crucial in instilling resilience, self-acceptance, and a positive mindset in your teen, helping them navigate the challenges they may face with grace and strength.

Also read:

How Bullying Impacts Teenage Mental Health

Effects of Cyberbullying on Teens

The post How To Help Your Teen Being Bullied for Their Speech first appeared on Help Your Teens.

Generations earlier have failed to realize the emotional damage and consequences that hurtful and harmful words have on young people — the old cliché that sticks and stones will break your bones, but words could never hurt is now history. Words hurt and can leave a trail of emotional scars for years if not addressed.

Signs of teen bullying:

-Sadness, anxiety
-Withdrawn, avoiding friends
-Skipping classes, school refusal, poor academic performance
-Trouble sleeping
-Change of appetite
-Physically not feeling well (frequent headaches, stomach aches)
-Possibly self-medicating (substance use)

Bullying is not always at school, it can be at their activities such as sports, dance, gymnastics or any extra-curriculum. Or possibly at a part-time job or community center where they volunteer. Bullying is mean and hurtful behavior that happens repeatedly. Studies have proven that the psychological impact of teen bullying can last well into adulthood if it’s not addressed.

If your teen is being bullied it is likely they feel angry, helpless, lonely, hopeless, and isolated from their peers. Bullying victims tend to experience a wide range of emotions that can prevent them from attending classes or refusing to go to school. In some situations, the target of bully will turn to drugs or alcohol to numb their pain or even have dark thoughts of ending their life.

How Bullying Impacts Teenage Mental Health

1. Depression.

Teens that are bullied by other students at school are more likely to develop depression. Some of the common signs include appetite changes, trouble sleeping, emotional disturbances, and possibly thoughts of suicide. You may notice they start isolating themselves from friends and even family events. They lose interest in their favorite activities and possibly drop out of their sports or other extra-curriculum that they once enjoyed.

2. Anxiety.

Many young people are already struggling with anxiety, however students that are being bullied are more likely to develop anxiety issues. This makes it harder for them to form relationships with friends, peers and teachers. If bullying persists, the anxiety can become so intense that your teen may not want to go to school or participate in school-related activities such as field trips. The bullying literally paralyzing them with fear increasing teenage mental health concerns.

3. Self-harm and suicide ideation.

If your teen is a target of a bully, they can struggle with the emotional pain for years after it ended — including thoughts of suicide. To cope with these negative consequences, some teens even resort to self-harming behaviors like cutting or burning themselves. Research shows that experiencing bullying is associated with an increased risk of self-harming behavior in young people.

Both bullying and cyberbullying are concerns for parents of teenagers today. Since the 2020 cyberbullying has increased by 40 percent, which is causing the more mental health concerns for teenagers.

Keeping your lines of communication open with your teenager is priority. Simply by knowing the signs of bullying and cyberbullying is the first step. It is likely your teen will not tell you if they are being bullied — parents need to be aware of their child’s emotional needs. All teens can be moody, but a parent will have their intuition when something is not right.

Also read:

What Causes Teen Mental Health Issues?

Goals of Therapeutic Boarding Schools.

The Effects of Cyberbullying.

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If your teen is struggling with emotional issues either from being bullied, harassed, depression or otherwise and you have exhausted your local resources, contact us for a free consultation to learn about the benefits of therapeutic boarding schools. 

The post How Bullying Impacts Teenage Mental Health first appeared on Help Your Teens.

Imagine being a fly on the wall in your daughter’s elementary school class. The teacher introduces a new boy who has just moved into town and then asks the kids to welcome him to the class. It’s obvious that he’s uncomfortable. After all, he misses his old friends and doesn’t know anyone. To make matters worse, he’s shy. You’d think the kids would go out of their way to make him feel comfortable, but the opposite occurs. In fact, his classmates are flat-out mean.

You see, he doesn’t dress like the other boys in town — he’s from another part of the country where customs are different. And the kids laugh at him because he talks funny. 

But what happens next can actually take your breath away.

The kids go from snickering behind his back to being outright cruel to the new student. As the days go by, things go from bad to worse. The kids write nasty notes on his locker and on social media and laugh at him because he sits alone at lunch. Plus, when everyone changes classes, the kids go out of their way to bump into him in the hallway. 

Of course, you might think maybe one kid would do this because he’s outright mean — or he didn’t have a proper upbringing. But you’d expect more from the others, wouldn’t you? Unfortunately, more and more kids harass this poor boy because they want to win acceptance from the in-crowd. 

You’d think one kind soul would stand up for him. But unfortunately, no one does.

In fact, even though the grown-ups see what’s happening, no one speaks up or stands up for him. Instead, they pretend it’s not happening or they look the other way. 

Although this hasn’t come down to fist-fighting yet, you know it’s just a matter of time. 

You have to ask yourself, what did this kid do wrong to deserve such ill treatment? He was popular back home, but then again, everyone there talked and dressed like him. 

On a different note, where did these kids learn to be so mean? 

That answer is simple. 

It doesn’t take much these days to find grown-ups who:

• Call people nasty names.
• Judge people they don’t know.
• Shout people down for voicing an opinion.
• Pounce on people for disagreeing with them.
• Bully or make fun of people who look or act differently.
• Shut down debate to drown out dissenting viewpoints.
• Boycott groups that adhere to different values.
• Condemn people for committing acts — even though the facts aren’t completely known. 
• Denounce entire groups of people due to the act of one individual.
• Rant against people in order to appease the in-crowd.

Disgusting, isn’t it?

And all the while, just as happened in the school, people look the other way or remain silent.

How can we be surprised when kids act this way when all they’re doing is copying the behavior they see around them?

Would you want your kids to mimic your behavior?

Excerpted from The Path to a Meaningful Life by Frank Sonnenberg.

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Frank Sonnenberg is an award-winning author and a well-known advocate for moral character, personal values, and personal responsibility. He has written nine books and has been named one of “America’s Top 100 Thought Leaders” and one of “America’s Most Influential Small Business Experts.” Frank has served on several boards and has consulted to some of the largest and most respected companies in the world. Frank’s newest book, The Path to a Meaningful Life, was released June 14, 2022.

Additionally, his blog — FrankSonnenbergOnline — has attracted millions of readers on the Internet. It was recently named one of the “Top Self-Improvement and Personal Development Blogs” in the world, and it continues to be named among the “Best 21st Century Leadership Blogs,” the “Top 100 Socially-Shared Leadership Blogs,” and the “Best Inspirational Blogs On the Planet.” 

The post Where Do Bullies Learn to Be So Mean? first appeared on Help Your Teens.

Bullying is a significant and complex problem in our society. We used to worry about in-person bullying — physical injuries, theft, and even vandalism. Today, in addition to bullying we also must be concerned about cyberbullying, which can be just as harmful.

In 2013 the Urban Institute’s study on bullying revealed that “17% [of] students reported being victims of cyberbullying, 41% reported being victims of physical bullying, and 45% reported being victims of psychological bullying.”

In 2014 JAMA Pediatrics reported that “cyberbullying was strongly related [to] suicidal ideation in comparison with traditional bullying.” Most kids spend a lot of time online, talking to friends, but also gossiping at times. Because they see the Internet as anonymous, kids feel as though they can pretend to be someone else online (known as catfishing), and bully people in this way. This can be immensely harmful to others, as well as themselves, and can have devastating consequences.

Who, Where, Why?

Like other forms of bullying, cyberbullying can occur anywhere, by anyone. All that’s required is a device with Internet access, which is incredibly common anymore.

People from all different backgrounds are bullied. Some groups are unfortunately more likely to be bullied, such as LGBTQ youth, young people with disabilities, and individuals who tend to isolate themselves from others. Basically anyone who is different from the accepted norm in their respective community or peer group is at a higher risk of being bullied.

A bully can pick on anyone about anything. They can target those they deem to be too “weird” or different from themselves, or even someone they’re secretly jealous of. Children and young adults have been bullied for myriad reasons, from weight, to wearing the “wrong” clothing, to merely being outside a clique. Some of the warning signs that may indicate that someone is being bullied include:

• Unexplained physical injuries
• Items missing that the victim states are “lost”
• Feeling or faking illnesses, often headaches or stomach problems
• Different eating habits, whether overeating or undereating
• Trouble sleeping
• Loss of interest in school and having trouble with schoolwork
• Not wanting to be in social situations or a loss of friends
• Low self-esteem and hopelessness
• Hurting themselves, speaking of suicide, and leaving home without notice

The Link Between Bullying and Suicide

Children who are bullied may be at an increased risk of suicide. However, most bullying victims do not think about suicide. Bullying itself is seldom the single cause of suicide; it’s typically a combination of issues, illnesses, or situations in the individual’s history combined with bullying that leads to suicidal thoughts. Some issues of concern include mental illness, traumas, and bad home situations. In addition, there are different groups who may have an increased risk of suicide including:

• American Indian and Alaskan Native
• Asian American
• Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth
• Kids [who] are not supported by parents, peers, and schools

How to Help With Bullying

There are many ways to help someone you know if they’re being bullied, including:

• Really listen to the individual, show that you care by paying attention.
• Let the child know that being targeted by bullies is not their fault.
• Realize that bullied children might have trouble talking about it with you. You may want to have them talk with a psychologist, psychiatrist or even a counselor at their school.
• Give them some good advice as to what to do. You may want to partake in role-playing in this situation.
• Work together with the victim, the victim’s parent(s), school, or an organization to come up with a fair solution. The child being bullied should not have to have their schedules or routines changed; they are not at fault.

How to Help With Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is new to our society and is becoming more and more common. Some children have taken their lives as a result. There are some ways you can help your child or friend prevent cyberbullying, such as cutting off communication with the bully, blocking the bully on social media sites (so they do not have any access to your postings or phone number), or complaining anonymously to the social media sites where cyberbullying is taking place — they have strict rules and will keep evidence of bullying interactions.

If you’re a parent, ways to help your child include supporting them mentally and emotionally and not forcing them to end online communications with others. When a child is the victim, being banned from participating on social media may be perceived as punishment.

It’s not their fault, though, that they are being victimized. Consider speaking with the other child’s parent(s) or even the police (if the situation is serious enough). Bullying is a serious problem and can lead to many terrible events, including violence and suicide. Remember that there is always someone out there to listen and support you.

Contributor: Steve Johnson

Also read:

5 Benefits of Boarding Schools

Goals of Therapeutic Boarding Schools

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If you are struggling with your teenager’s behavior and you have exhausted your local resources, learn more about how residential treatment can help your troubled teen through emotional growth. Contact us today for a free consultation.

The post Teen Suicide and Bullying first appeared on Help Your Teens.