THE DEEP EFFECTS OF CHILD BULLYING ON YOUNG BYSTANDERS.

www.cssworld.org

Unmasking the Hidden Toll of Witnessing Bullying on Young Minds and Bodies

-????????? RANJIT KUMAR

?Childhood, a realm meant for laughter and learning, can sometimes darken when the spotlight turns to bullying and abuse. Yet, amid the focus on victims and perpetrators, the psychological and physical toll on bystanders often remains concealed. Let us explore the complicated world of young bystanders, those who observe acts of bullying among their peers, unveiling the intricate web of psychological and physical repercussions. Additionally, let us also try to understand the pivotal roles parents and educators play in illuminating this hidden distress.

The Unseen Struggle: Bystanders' Psychological Burden

Being a bystander in the bullying & abuse scenario is far from neutral. The emotions stirred by witnessing cruelty, such as fear, guilt, and a sense of powerlessness, penetrate deep into the bystanders' psyche. This emotional tempest can leave lasting imprints, fostering conditions like anxiety, depression, and even long-term trauma. In the shadows, these young witnesses grapple with emotional wounds that might not be outwardly visible but are no less impactful.

Imagine a classroom where Laxmi watches her friend Anjali being ridiculed by classmates. As she grapples with guilt for not intervening, the emotional turmoil spirals within her. Laxmi’s inner conflict between empathy for Anjali and fear of becoming the next target magnifies her psychological distress. Months later, she battles anxiety that stems from unresolved emotions, revealing the lasting impact of her bystander role.

From Mind to Body: The Physical Outcomes

Surprisingly, the effects of witnessing bullying & abuse are not restricted to emotional turmoil alone. The stress of observing such events can trigger physical manifestations. Aches, pains, and other bodily complaints often arise from this chronic stress. The invisible thread connecting the mind to the body becomes evident as emotional distress finds expression in physical ailments.

Picture Mohamed, a quiet observer of bullying that often happens with his young cousin at his apartment playground nearby. The distress he feels triggers persistent headaches and stomach aches. Doctors find no underlying medical cause, leading them to consider stress as a potential culprit. Mohamed’s inability to process his emotional strain manifests physically, revealing the undeniable link between psychological burden and somatic complaints.

Guiding Lights: The Vital Role of Parents

Parents are the anchors in the storm for these young bystanders. Fostering an environment of open communication is paramount. Encouraging children to confide their experiences, fears, and concerns creates a safety net. Such conversations not only offer emotional solace but also embolden children to seek help and take a stand against bullying.

In Sarah’s case, her parents serve as her emotional anchors. Encouraging open conversations at the dinner table, they create a safe space for her to share her day. As she narrates her discomfort about witnessing bullying at the dance academy where she learns ballet, they validate her feelings, alleviating her emotional burden. Through their active involvement, Sarah’s parents empower her to seek help when witnessing acts of cruelty.

Educators as Catalysts for Change

Educators too, wield immense power in shaping the bystander experience. Schools must nurture a culture where reporting bullying is met with action, not apprehension. By actively engaging bystanders, educators can harness their potential to prevent bullying and foster empathy.

Consider Mr. Baldev Singh, a teacher who not only addresses bullying but actively encourages students to intervene. By incorporating empathy-building activities into the curriculum, he equips bystanders with the tools to counteract passive roles. When Mr. Singh fosters a culture where bystanders transform into upstanders, he illustrates the transformative power educators wield in shaping young minds.

Championing Empathy and Compassion

Modelling empathy and compassion is a joint endeavour for parents and educators. By showcasing these virtues in daily interactions and integrating them into the curriculum, we ingrain values that counteract the passive bystander role.

Take Vijay’s school, where empathy education is not just a concept but a way of life. Through classroom discussions and real-life scenarios, students learn to recognize emotions in themselves and others. By witnessing their teachers and peers model compassion, Vijay’s school erases the boundaries between bystanders and defenders, paving the way for a more empathetic generation.

The Sanctuary of Support Systems

Apart from education, robust support systems are indispensable. Schools should offer counselling services that cater not only to victims but also to bystanders grappling with their emotions. Parent-teacher partnerships can further reinforce the idea that addressing the aftermath of witnessing bullying is a shared duty.

Envision a school equipped with counselling and life-skill learning services that extend beyond victims to include bystanders like Laxmi, Mohamed, and Sarah. Here, these silent spectators find solace and a safe space to process their emotions. Additionally, parent-teacher collaborations ensure a holistic approach to addressing the aftermath of witnessing bullying, strengthening the foundation of support.

WAYNE MACDONALD’S CHILDREN SAFETY & SURVIVAL PROGRAM AND DEALING WITH BYSTANDERS

WAYNE MACDONALD’S CHILDREN SAFETY & SURVIVAL PROGRAM (The CSS PROGRAM) in schools, seamlessly integrates practical lesson plans for students and interactive workshop sessions for parents.

Through interactive lesson plans & practical self-awareness techniques such as role-playing, gamification, real-life simulations, kinesthetics, etc….the students (The Bully, the victim and bystander) are guided to reflect on their mental and physical vulnerabilities arising due to bullying & abuse and their subsequent decision-making process. This self-realization and the self-correction journey enhances and implements their mental & physical health.

Through interactive workshops by industry professionals, parents are encouraged to evaluate and self-reflect the impact of their child’s behaviour on themselves and their children as well as discuss strategies for fostering positive awareness and effective solutions to address this issue.?

The collected feedback data from both students' lesson plans and parent workshops is carefully analysed by the CSS PROGRAM trainers and transferred to school counsellors who then approach the data through meta-analysis in order to identify patterns and proactively take corrective action for optimal effectiveness.

Conclusion: Empowering the Witness

To witness bullying is to experience its aftermath actively. As we strive to make our environments safer and more inclusive, the bystander's ordeal cannot be ignored. By nurturing open communication, sowing seeds of empathy, and encouraging proactive involvement, we empower these silent spectators. In doing so, we cultivate a generation that stands against cruelty, champions empathy, and weaves a tapestry of compassion.

Ranjit Kumar is the COO of WAYNE MACDONALD’S CHILDREN SAFETY & SURVIVAL PROGRAM. With international entrepreneurial experience of over 25 years in education, communications, healthcare, and retail, he is a multiple industry award winner and is an honoured member of The International Who’s Who of Professionals, USA. His views have been sought & solicited in leading international publications. He can be contacted at: [email protected] or on linkedin : www.dhirubhai.net/in/ranjit-kumar-5b075b13

Mridula Praveen Dr. Shunila Joy Chauhan Dr. Seemaa Negi Hetal Vasa ???? Dr. (Hon) Kusum Kanwar Shona Jaiswal Riddhi Doshi Pratibha Mishra Sujay Jairaj Pankaj Singh Kanak Gupta Lakshmi Kumar Tripti Parekh Adv. C. A Majeed Raghav Podar Dr.Veena Shrivastava Dr Neeta Mhatre Suchita Malakar Anne Dias Yogini Suvarna Richa Kumar Chaitrali Nagviskar Girija Gopinath Natasha Mehta Shalini Nambiar Annu Arora mitesh parekh Chandrakala Mishra Vandana Saxena Dr. Sudha Acharya Jimmy Agrawal Shah

?