BULLYING in SHOOLS
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As a school nurse, you might be one of the first school employees to suspect or learn about an act of bullying.
Bullying which results in physical injuries can be some of the most obvious attacks.
However, many forms of bullying cause emotional and other health related complaints. The health related symptoms (psychosomatic symptoms) can go unrecognized for a long period of time until they are related to a bullying situation.
Health related complaints caused from bullying include, but are not limited to:
- stomach aches
- fatigue
- nausea
- sore muscles
- headaches
- depression
- anxiety
- shortness of breath
- dizziness
- tiredness
- drug/alcohol use/abuse
- back pain
- abdominal pain
- loss of appetite
Many times it is easier for students to ask to see the school nurse for these or similar complaints. If you are the school nurse who realizes one of your students is being bullied then read on to see how you can help.
As a school nurse YOU CAN HELP!
1. Gather Information or Get School Admin to Gather Info: Collaborate with other school employees (administration) to determine if the situation qualifies as a form of bullying (physical, verbal, cyber, social).
2. Be Supportive: Support the student being bullied and support all bystanders while the school administrators properly address the student bully according to school policy.
3. Educate: Help educate students and staff on bullying, prevention, and responding.
These steps are outlined in greater detail on the Stop Bullying website!.
List of online (anti)bullying resources:
