1. Persistent Threat

Often, bullying involves repeated acts of aggression, intimidation, or humiliation. Physical and emotional safety threats can create a constant state of anxiety and fear for students.

2. Helplessness

Bullying victims may feel helpless to stop the abuse, which can result in a sense of helplessness. Traumatic stress can be triggered by the feeling of being unable to protect oneself.

3. Isolation

Victims of bullying may withdraw from social interactions to avoid further harm, which can lead to social isolation. Traumatic stress can be exacerbated by loneliness and depression.

4. Emotional Impact

Bullying can cause a range of emotional responses, including anger, shame, humiliation, and sadness. These emotional reactions can become ingrained and result in traumatic stress symptoms.

5. Re-Experiencing

Traumatic stress often involves re-experiencing the traumatic event through flashbacks, nightmares, or intrusive thoughts. Victims of bullying may repeatedly relive the traumatic experiences they endured.

6. Hyperarousal

Hyperarousal is a common symptom of traumatic stress, leading to heightened levels of anxiety, irritability, and hypervigilance. Victims of bullying may remain on high alert, expecting further abuse.

7. Avoidance

Students who have experienced bullying may go to great lengths to avoid situations, places, or people that remind them of the bullying, which can limit their daily activities and lead to social withdrawal.

8. Negative Changes in Mood and Cognition

Bullying can erode one's self-esteem and self-worth, leading to persistent negative self-beliefs and cognitive distortions. These changes in self-perception can contribute to traumatic stress symptoms.

1. Immediate Support   

2. Seek Professional Help   

3. Involve Parents and Caregivers

4. Implement School-Wide Initiatives

5. Supportive Peer Groups

6. Safety Measures  

7.Education and Prevention

8. Follow-Up and Monitoring

 

Symptoms:

Symptoms may vary for individual students given their culture, religion, attachment style, personality, etc. Typical symptoms may include:

Response:

1.      Build Basic Trust 

Listening to their story; Use routines, classroom norms to establish social and emotional safety in the classroom, Consistency and reliability in the relationship based on dignity and respect. 

2.      Encourage Causal Thinking

Use “What” and “how” questions to encourage causal thinking; Focusing on solutions instead of consequence for behavior problems 

3.      Help Student to Gain Ability to Handle Stress, and Concentration 

Teach students about their own brain (brain in the palm of the hand); Using “I statements” to express feelings and wishes; Learn language for emotions; Create space for “chilling out” (Positive Time Out or Chill Down Time); Held class meeting to be heard and validated, and to recognize that others have similar feelings. Teach students that mistakes are opportunities to learn

 

“We learn best from those with whom we are in caring, mutually respectful relationships that promote independence. Such supportive relationships enable students from diverse backgrounds to feel comfortable bringing their personal experiences into the classroom, discover their common humanity and feel as though they are viewed as assets to the school community.” Learning First Alliance Every Child Learning: Safe and Supportive Schools

 

Reference

Teresa LaSala, Jody McVittie and Suzanne Smitha, Positive Discipline in the School and Classroom Leaders’ Guide: Resources

2.     Be prepared for push back: many children who have been exposed to intimate partner violence have seen adults behave in kind and affectionate ways, as well as in frightening and unpredictable ways. They can find it to trust people. 

3.     Practice active listening: Some children will want to discuss their traumatic experiences, others will not. Let the children lead the discussion and do not pressure them into talking about topics they do not feel ready to discuss. If they do discuss traumatic events, try to be supportive and neutral. 

4.     Reduce stress and help children build coping skills: ask children what has helped them to feel better in the past, such as making art or playing sport, and encourage them to try these activities as a way of reducing stress. 

5.     Build confidence: Joining clubs or teams can help children to believe in themselves, make connections and build their own communities. 

6.     Help children to manage their emotions: Model emotional regulation and use supportive language when children express their own emotions. 

7.     Connect with the child’s other anchors: identify the important supportive people in the child’s life, including other teachers, coaches, or caregivers, and create a network to help the child feel safe and in control. 

8.     Create a calm, stable environment: children exposed to trauma may be on constant alert for threats. A quiet, comfortable and predictable environment can help them to feel safe. 

9.     Manage challenging behavior in healthy ways: Set clear limits for unacceptable behavior and put logical and fair consequences in place. There should be clear expectations so that children can feel safe ("18 ways to support children who witness domestic violence," 2016).

Effects of domestic violence on children. (2021, February 15). Office on Women's Health. https://www.womenshealth.gov/relationships-and-safety/domestic-violence/effects-domestic-violence-children

Image 1 (screaming child): https://rkcaregroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/child-and-dv.jpg

Image 2 (hands): https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/how-to-find-help-with-healing-from-childhood-trauma

1. Physical Bullying

Physical bullying involves using physical force to harm or intimidate the victim. This can include hitting, kicking, pushing, tripping, or any other form of physical aggression.

2. Verbal Bullying  

Verbal bullying involves using words to hurt, insult, or humiliate the victim. This can include name-calling, teasing, taunting, or spreading rumors about someone.

3. Social or Relational Bullying

Social bullying, also known as relational bullying, focuses on damaging a person's social relationships or reputation. It includes behaviors like excluding someone from a group, spreading malicious gossip, or manipulating others to turn against the victim.

4. Cyberbullying

In the digital age, cyberbullying has become a prevalent form of bullying. It involves using electronic communication, such as social media, texting, or email, to harass, threaten, or embarrass someone. Cyberbullying can include spreading rumors online, sending hurtful messages, or sharing embarrassing photos or videos.

5. Racist, Sexist, or Homophobic Bullying

 Some bullies target their victims based on their race, gender, sexual orientation, or other personal characteristics. This form of bullying involves discriminatory and prejudiced behavior, such as racial slurs, sexist comments, or homophobic taunts.

6. Sexual Bullying

 Sexual bullying involves unwanted sexual comments, gestures, or actions meant to humiliate or intimidate the victim. It can include inappropriate touching, sexual harassment, or making explicit comments about someone's body or sexuality.

7.Cyberbullying by Proxy

Some bullies may not directly engage in cyberbullying but instead use others to do their dirty work. They may encourage friends or acquaintances to target the victim online.

8. Bystander Bullying

While not the primary aggressor, bystanders who witness bullying and do nothing to intervene or even support the bully indirectly contribute to the problem. Bystander bullying can perpetuate a hostile environment for the victim.

9. Institutional Bullying

In some cases, bullying behaviors may be tolerated or perpetuated by the school or institution itself. This can include a lack of intervention by teachers or administrators, policies that don't adequately address bullying, or a culture that normalizes or ignores bullying.

Response Strategies: 

Source: https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/types/community_violence_child.asp

https://lookthroughtheireyes.org/community-violence-can-lead-to-childhood-trauma/#:~:text=Psychological%20problems%2C%20including%20depression%2C%20anxiety,%2C%20illnesses%20and%20self%2Dinjury.

https://www.samhsa.gov/child-trauma/recognizing-and-treating-child-traumatic-stress

https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline/warning-signs-risk-factors

https://www.ptsd.va.gov/understand/isitptsd/common_reactions.asp

 

 
 Response strategies:
 
 If the teacher has any suspicion of the child/student being abuse then they should:
 
 

References:

https://healtheducationresources.unesco.org/library/documents/protocol-management-and-reporting-sexual-abuse-and-harassment-schools
https://defendinnocence.org/child-sexual-abuse-risk-reduction/proactive-parenting/build-support/7-ways-teachers-can-help-prevent-child-sexual-abuse/

If the student has trouble communicating verbally:
Students may have a difficult time expressing their feelings or may not feel comfortable talking at school. Do not pressure students to talk. Some may prefer writing, drawing, listening to music, or playing a game instead of talking about their feelings. Provide students with a variety of options for expressing grief.

It's essential to recognize that each child may react differently to military deployment, and the level of support needed may vary. Regular communication with parents or guardians is crucial to understanding the specific needs of each student and providing appropriate support during this challenging period.

source:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TCJBY78tXvw