Cyber Bullying Forum Aims to 'Stop the Pain'
State and local leaders will be on hand to discuss the tragedy of cyber bullying and teen suicide.
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A recent student suicide got people in Pasco County talking about suicide and cyber bullying. Now, the Pasco Sheriff, state lawmakers and mental health professionals are also readying to talk about those same issues.
The public is invited to the Stop the Pain cyber bullying and suicide forum Saturday night, Jan. 19, at Redeemer Community Church at 9230 Ridge Road, New Port Richey.The forum starts at 7 p.m.
Panelists will include Florida State Sen. John Legg, State Reps. Mike Fasano and Richard Corcoran, Sheriff Chris Nocco and mental health specialist Rick Kay. Hernando High senior Sarah Bell, who leads an initiative to stop cyber bullying called Unbreakable, will also be present.
The forum is sponsored by Recover Pasco, crazy8freedom.org, Staywell Kids, the Pasco Sheriff's Office and Redeemer Community Church.
A flier says the forum is an opportunity to discuss suicide and cyberbullying and “help us map the road to recovering our children’s safety and sanity.”
Fasano is participating because "he recognizes that cyber bullying and teen suicide are very real threats to the young people of our community," said Greg Giordano, Fasano's chief aide. "Hopefully, by bringing together policymakers, law enforcement, the faith community and medical professionals, a path can be sketched out for local leaders and families to deal with these extremely important issues."
In December, Jessica Laney, a Fivay High student, committed suicide. Her friends claimed she had been the victim of bullying online.
However, the sheriff’s office never received any formal complaints about Jessica being bullied. Investigation revealed no signs she was bullied at the school.
The tragedy still provoked concerns in the community.
"Jessica Laney's suicide was the final straw in an already malignant teen societal issue that must be addressed today," said Chris Mahan, Public relations drector for Redeemer Community Church.
Mahan said that "according to The Florida Council for Community Mental Health, Pasco County is ranked fourth in state suicide statistics, these statistics include youth up to age 21. According to Florida Suicide Prevention, our state lost a staggering 245 youths aged 10-24 in 2011."
In addition, "the Caring for our Children Foundation states that in 2012, Pasco County lost six teens to suicide," Mahan said. "One child or teen suicide is too many but six in one year is beyond tragic because these deaths are not accidents or murders but deliberate attempts to escape the harsh realities our children and teens face daily."
Redeemer plans on holding quarterly "Stop the Pain" forums and is also open to assisting other organizations with hosting these forums.
"Pasco County leaders have expressed publicly the need for more community involvement in preventing social ills," Mahan said. "Redeemer Community Church and Pastor Bill Gunter hear the cry of the community, and believe their work may help pave the way to mapping solutions on the epidemic problem of teen suicide and bullying. It is only through community partnerships and steadfast work that we can develop a clear vision and solid foundation to take the necessary steps to providing a safe, emotionally, and physically healthy community."
michael mirra
9:46 am on Thursday, January 17, 2013
When I was young they didn't have computers. I can't understand being intimidated by cyber bullying. As a child, I would have been intimidated by physical bullying, as that could harm me, but cyber bullying is of no threat. The children of today are too tied into computer communication & to them it means something more than it should.
How a young person would want to end their life over some idiot's words on a computer amazes me.
There has always been psycological bullying, & the kids without mental weakness just blow it off with the old 'sticks & stones will break my bones, but names will never harm me' attitude that a healthy mind embraces.
Psycoligical bullying is a fact of life. The advice my Mother would have given me would be "deal with it". For physical bullying, my Father would have told me to stand up for myself.
Kids today need support to have a strong mental outlook. Bullying will never stop. The problem is we have raise a generation of emotional wimps.
michael mirra
7:20 pm on Thursday, January 17, 2013
Some kids will always bully weaker kids. No matter what's done, it will always be,as it always has been. The only reason it now leads to suicide in so many cases is that these kids have no life other than cyber life & they have no reality to put it all int perspective. If they have a strong self image, they would let cyber bullying just bounce of them. You can't stop cyber bullying, but we can help kids strengthen their own self image so they just think the person trying to bully them is a jerk. The healthiest reaction would be to ignore the bully & therefore render the bully impotant of power. They may be tempted to fight back, which is counter productive, but it can make them feel like that can turn the tables on their tormentor. That is not positve, but it is better than letting themselves be beaten by some internet troll.
It's all about the mental strength of the kid on the recieving end. You'll never stop the bullys. To think that some poor kid is so seriously upset by this that they end their life shows that kids need counciling on having a stronger self image.
Christopher Mahan
9:41 pm on Friday, January 18, 2013
Hello Michael,
You are correct on many points. This is the very reason for the forum. We will never stop a bully. Our intention is to clear up any misinformation and to give parents and students the information that is available to them concerning laws, emotional help, and community support.
Cyber-bullying alone is not the total answer or cause of a teen’s emotional issues. However, in many cases and for many reasons it is a tipping point to the hopelessness a young person already feels. It is our sincere intention to stop the pain, and help these children, and their families avoid a tragic fact that today regardless of the reasons our children believe in high numbers that death is a solution.
I understand your points and I want to invite you to the forum Saturday at 7 PM at Redeemer Community Church located at 9230 Ridge Road n New Port Richey. Here you may discuss not debate the issues with our panel of mental health professionals, the Sheriff, parents, and students living with the problems they face each day. The forum is open to the public and free.
Sincerely,
Chris Mahan
Michelle Smith
5:17 pm on Friday, January 25, 2013
As technologies increasing rapidly so bullying does. And as a mom of two boys, more often than not I always received a report that my child was bullied from peers and they usually went home crying. And it does break my heart seeing your children in pain. But all I can do as a parent is to encourage and shows my love for them. Good thing I've searched a safety Application through the Android App Store that is useful in preventing and protecting children away from home. I have tested the app and it works great! Check it here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=skz.skz&feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwyLDEsInNrei5za3oiXQ..
Christopher Mahan
11:57 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Hi Michelle
Thank you for your information. I will include it on both our web sites. Redeemerlife.org and crazy8freedom.org. Here you can learn more about the Stop the Pain movement. Tell your friends and tell your boys principal that you want Stop the Pain in there school. Call the Pasco Dist. office tell them it is time to STOP the PAIN.
Thanks
Chris Mahan
727-842-5278
PR Dir.
Redeemer Communty Church
Redeemerlife.org
Cofounder Crazy8freemdom.org (STP)