This article is from page 4 of the 2012-11-06 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
A FORMER Clare hurler has committed to look into the cause and affect of cyber bullying as he works with young people through the organisation Soar.
Tony Griffin co-director of the national youth outreach movement built on an early intervention preventative model for 10 to 18 years olds said it is something the group will be looking into in the coming years.
In the past few weeks two teenage girls took their own lives after been bullied on line.
Cyber bullying is one of the biggest concerns among teenagers according to Mr Griffin, who added that a recent survey of students at a rural secondary school showed it was the top worry among 83 per cent of those that replied.
“It is something we would be very, very interested in and absolutely a lot of the deeds of bullying arise out of low self esteem and self belief. So we will certainly be looking at that over the next number of years as an organisation that is interested in young people fulfilling their potential and being as happy as possible,” he said.
Mr Griffin added that the challenges facing teenagers today are very different to previous generations.
“We are living in a different world now. And our first responsibility, rather than try to understand it through our eyes of what we grew up with, is actually to see it through teenager’s eye. They are living in a much more challenging world than we did, because bullies can come into their living rooms and houses and bully them on there computer,” he said.
“People say why don’t they just turn off their computer but it is not that easy for them because that is there world. They live in a virtual world.”
The local HSE does not have a specific programme in place to deal with this relatively new issue affecting young people’s mental health.
A spokesperson for the organisation said that different health professionals are engaged in case work with various other agencies and schools in supporting children, families and young people where bullying is involved.
“CAMS (the Child and Adolescent Mental health Service) works with young people who have experienced bullying and their parents where it has had a direct detrimental effect on their mental health or has been a contributory factor. CAMS also works closely with schools to advise and support staff both in dealing with individual cases and in general within the school,” he said.
“A useful resource is the Anti Bullying Centre in TCD led by Professor Mona O’Moore. The centre provides resources and advice both to professional and families regarding bullying in all its forms including recent publications on cyber bullying.”