Outside of our Bristow Walmart this week I noticed young ladies with big hearts, collecting donations to help put an end to bullying. Bullying and the effects of bullying have a major impact on community such as ours.
There are four, types of bullying, physical, verbal, cyber and, social. In small towns like Bristow especially, the social type tends to hit hardest because everyone knows everyone, just one or two false rumors or one embarrassing incident can lead to severe public humiliation within days, tack on cyber bullying with social media then the individual takes it home and there’s no escape from the humiliation.This can have devastating effects leading to severe depression, drug addiction, violence, even suicide.(Per Google) Oklahoma consistently ranks among the top 10 states in the U.S. for suicide rates, well over 60% higher than the national average.
Suicide ranked as the secondleading cause of death for Oklahoma youths aged 10-24, following unintentional injury. Steady show that more boys are suffering from bully at 32 percent and 29 percent being females.Incuding a recent surge and transgender suicide attempts.
Males accounted for the vast majority of youth suicide deaths, whereas females attempted suicide at higher rates as well as American Indian/Alaska Native youths in Oklahoma experienced the highest rates. So this is a major problem with a huge impact in small town like Bristow. Like the young lady’s that were at Bristow Walmart, collecting donations, we can all do our part by standing up for one another and choosing compassion instead of participating.
When you dare to stand for someone,
• Other people will stand up too.
• When that time comes, you’re going to feel it.
• You will know what to do.
• Be brave move fast and standup.
• Save the man next to you.