A Child's View: Cyberbullying
BY: Dominique Butler, School Liaison
CATEGORY: Grief and Loss
PUBLICATION: About Grief
Do you have a friend or loved one who was a victim of cyber bullying and attempted or completed suicide? If the answer is yes, you are not alone. It is normal to feel scared, angry or even guilty. Cyber bullying has become a major problem in the United States and throughout the world. Cyber bullying is when someone repeatedly makes fun of another person online or posts something negative about someone through social networks, email or text message.
When a friend or family member dies by suicide because they were bullied, it is normal to question "why" or "what could I have done to stop them."
You may feel guilty because you read or heard the negative things that were said about the person. You may be angry at the person who died or the person who bullied them. You may feel scared or worry about someone else who is being bullied. If you are experiencing any of the feelings listed above it is important to share your thoughts with a parent, teacher, school counselor or trusted adult. Talking about your feelings can help you feel better.
There are many ways to remember your loved one. You can help yourself by joining a grief support group, you can honor the person's life by getting involved in an anti-bullying program and you can befriend someone who is being bullied. Above all, take the time to laugh and remember the good times you shared together.
It is never easy to cope with the death of a close friend or a loved one. Watch a funny movie, exercise, listen to music, write in a journal, draw pictures, and give yourself plenty of time to heal.