Exploring the links between cyberbullying and youth suicide

The internet, various social media apps, and smartphones have taken bullying to a level that is almost impossible to monitor or manage.

Posted 2:28 p.m. Oct 17, 2022 — Updated 2:28 p.m. Oct 17, 2022

Gale Wilkins

, WRAL contributor

RALEIGH, N.C. — In 2008, I wrote an article regarding my concerns with the unaddressed impact of cyberbullying. It was printed in a local newspaper.

Today, the topic has proven to be as toxic as I envisioned.

The reason for writing the article is I had a niece in high school who experienced the relentless pursuit from cyber trolls. My niece was a victim of “Outing,” which at that time (2008) meant sharing someone’s embarrassing secrets or images. She was a new student at the school and a popular cheerleader. Their strategy was to gain her trust so that she would reveal private information during sleepovers, pictures, secrets, and then the bullies made available the private information for online viewing. These tactics are still implemented today!

For years, school systems have researched the damaging psychological impacts of bullying and several agencies – government, law enforcement, universities – have used research to seek a solution. However, the internet, various social media apps, and smartphones have taken bullying to a level that is almost impossible to monitor or manage!

Youth Truth Survey researches bullying trends and says, “Data show nationwide that bullying behaviors differs across schools, and the potential for preventing bullying behaviors, as the experiences students have in one school might be vastly different than students in another.”

Stopbullying.gov provides a plethora of information and resources concerning cyberbullying. This government site mentions the following special concerns with cyberbullying: persistent, permanent, and hard to notice.

Persistent – Digital devices offer an ability to immediately and continuously communicate 24 hours a day, so it can be difficult for children experiencing cyberbullying to find relief.
Permanent – Most information communicated electronically is permanent and public, if not reported and removed. A negative online reputation, including for those who bully, can impact college admissions, employment, and other areas of life.
Hard to Notice – Because teachers and parents may not overhear or see cyberbullying taking place, it is harder to recognize.

6 ways parents can help prevent teen suicide

The National Institute of Health funded a study of more than 10,000 adolescents and found that nine percent of the young adolescents (average age 12) reported being a target of cyberbullying. They also noted that female students were more likely to be bullied online and students who experienced cyberbullying are more likely to have thoughts of suicide and suicide attempts. Cyberbullying of course is not the only reason for an increase in adolescent depression and suicidal ideation. The study reported other factors that are known to affect thoughts of suicide and attempts.

A factsheet on Cyberbullying and Suicide states, it is unlikely that experience with cyberbullying by itself leads to youth suicide. Rather, it tends to exacerbate instability and hopelessness in the minds of adolescents already struggling with stressful life circumstances.

The more positive a school culture is, the better students will be able to learn. As parents, we are also part of the solution. Make sure you know what policies are in place for your student’s school by visiting the school website or school counseling office for additional information.

Speaking to my niece, who is now an adult, and my sister; parental involvement and story-telling saved her life and allowed her to transition into a healthy and successful adult. Story-telling/story editing are life coaching strategies that involves sharing stories that inspire change and story editing to help people make life changes. Storytelling connects with the emotions and helps us connect with each other on an emotional level.

Storytelling can shift perspectives without directly addressing another person’s issue without embarrassing them. When parents are coaching their students, stories can expose a truth that they might not recognize in themselves. As well as it shows someone else how to successfully resolve an issue like the one my niece was wrestling with.

Signs parents should be on the lookout for:

⁃ Transitions in life like new schools, new social groups, new activities

⁃ Students spending time alone

⁃ Students began self-harming

⁃ Students communicate/engage with family less

⁃ Students’ grades decline or academic interests change

Solutions parents can employ:

⁃ Find different outlets for students (elective or after school activities)

⁃ Get your students talking… don’t punish them for social media content instead consider joining them in making Reels or TikTok videos

⁃ Be Present!!! Being engaged and available when your students need you is imperative

In conclusion, my sister became PTA President and worked with parents to create support groups and advocate for students. They scheduled sessions with administration, students, and Saturday support programs for parents and students. My niece said, her mom’s involvement at school “while it felt embarrassing, it was the way that she was able to help me! Everyone wants to fit in, but you must find your tribe. Some of students who were in my tribe then are still some of the closest people to me now.”

How to prevent bullying online and offline

Gale McKoy Wilkins is a wife, mom, grandparent and family life coach. She is the founder of Project Arrow, an evidence-based peer-to-peer and leadership program teaching middle, high school and first-year college students how to deal with trauma and crisis using life coaching. It's the first life coaching organization in the state to receive funding from the Department of Public Instruction and the first to implement life coaching in a school setting.

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