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IOL News
5 days ago
- Health
- IOL News
Cyber bullying: deadly mental health crisis in SA schools
Bullying at South Africa's schools is no longer just about dealing with bruises. The advent of social media brings a whole new facet of bullying and pupils' mental health. SOUTH Africa's schoolchildren are in the grip of a mental health crisis, with many turning to suicide and self-harm to cope with emotional pain. The cause, experts say, is bullying, which has reached epidemic levels. Reports suggest that between 40% and 75% of pupils fall victim to it at some stage. One organisation says the situation is so dire that at least 11 children take their own lives each day. Dr Alicia Porter, a board member of the South African Society of Psychiatrists (SASOP), says bullying can also intersect with race, ethnicity and socioeconomic status, with children from disadvantaged backgrounds more likely to experience bullying in diverse, multi-ethnic environments. 'We're not just dealing with bruises anymore,' says Porter. 'I work with children and families, and there's just been such a significant increase," she says. "Before, bullying would be contained just in that environment. But with this now intersecting with the digital space, things can go viral at the click of a button, and once it's out there, you might delete it, but it cannot stop the spread.' Porter refers to a study by the Children's Institute, which found that 40% of school-going children in the country have experienced some form of bullying. She says primary and high school pupils are anxious, depressed, and in some cases suicidal. When bullying is compounded by digital shame, the psychological damage can be lifelong. 'It's no longer limited to fists and name-calling; voice notes, group chat exclusions, photo manipulation and public shaming via platforms such as Instagram, WhatsApp and TikTok create humiliation that leaves the child feeling even more vulnerable and helpless. For many victims, there's no escape.' Porter warns that bullying has led to increased rates of anxiety, depression, substance use, and even suicide. 'It's like almost a pandemic of unkindness that has been unleashed,' she says. 'Kids are making videos of kids being bullied, and while that sort of exposes what happened, we never really think about the victim and the shame and what that might do to their mental health.' More worrying, says Porter, is that schools often don't have clear or consistent ways of dealing with bullies, or even policies in place. 'So oftentimes, the victim is further traumatised by interacting with the school system, and then they're made to feel even worse, they are made to blame, or they're not taken seriously.' She recalls one case in which a school decided a 10-year-old child who had been bullied must be sent to a hospital for 21 days. Bullying, she says, is one of the main reasons why children self-harm. 'They're in distress so they cut themselves. They don't want to go to school, or their marks start to suffer, or you see a change in their behaviour. So we react to the behaviour without really understanding what might be the underlying reason.' The trauma doesn't end when a child leaves school, but follows them into adulthood, she warns. 'Mental health issues don't start in adulthood. You start developing risk factors in childhood,' Porter says, calling it a 'silent, seeping wound.' But while the victim is traumatised, the bully often needs help too. 'Bullies are also victims of trauma, neglect, or violence at home,' says Porter. 'They target those they perceive to be weaker to elevate their social standing and to fit in.' Children from disadvantaged communities, or who face differences in race and ethnicity, are especially vulnerable. Girls and boys are both at risk, but the forms of bullying differ. 'With boys, it's definitely more overt. So they are more victims of physical bullying, verbal bullying. Whereas with girls, it's a lot more subtle — exclusion, name-calling, spreading rumours, isolating them. Girls are more likely to be targets of relational or verbal bullying.' Porter doesn't believe banning digital devices is the answer. 'We're going to need to learn how to navigate rather than just take it away, because what does that do? It just buys us maybe a little bit of time. The digital age has arrived, and as parents, it's uncharted territory. We can't phone a friend or your grandma and ask her, how did you do this? We're making up the rules as we go along, but we do need to make up rules. But we haven't — and so it's kind of exploded.' She says most of her patient referrals come from teachers and has advocated for them to be trained to handle bullying and mental health issues. 'It only takes one child to lead the charge, but peer pressure turns cruelty into performance,' she says. Despite laws protecting children, many schools lack consistent policies, training, or accountability, particularly in rural or under-resourced areas. 'This is a crisis hiding in plain sight,' warns Porter. 'The emotional violence of bullying is as real as any physical wound. And unless we intervene now with urgency, compassion and a commitment to justice, we are failing an entire generation.' Danie van Loggerenberg, CEO of the National Centre for Child Protection (NCCP), says mental health complications among children are the highest they've ever been. 'Eleven children die by suicide every day,' he says. According to van Loggerenberg, up to 83% of pupils will be bullied at some stage, and because children often feel they have no one to turn to, many are turning to ChatGPT for help. He says bullying has evolved into a digital battlefield, with children creating 'shade rooms' and 'channels' on WhatsApp where they run polls on who is 'hot or not', complete with victims' photos. Their research shows that 160,000 children skip school every day because of bullying. About 90% of bullying is child-on-child, and boys are more likely to be physically violent, while girls can be far more cruel. 'That's why you won't get a movie called Mean Boys — only Mean Girls,' he says. Adeshini Naicker, Director of Childline KZN, says while physical bullying is more common in primary school, emotional and psychological abuse, including cyberbullying, intensifies in high school. 'With the rise of social media, emotional bullying now extends beyond the classroom, making it harder to escape and more damaging over time. Effective prevention needs to start early, involve schools, parents, and communities, and address both physical and emotional forms of harm,' says Naicker. The Department of Education could not be reached for comment.
Yahoo
18-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oregon senators agree to cut $45 million in funding for early childhood programs
Rowan plays with toys at Gull Harbor Lutheran Preschool, where Erin Mann teaches. (Grace Deng/Washington State Standard) State-funded preschool programs would lose millions under an early childhood education budget given a 'reluctant yes' vote by the Oregon Senate. Senate Bill 5514, the 2025-27 budget for the state's two-year-old Department of Early Learning and Care, passed the Senate on Monday on a 22-6 vote, with five Republicans joining all Democrats in voting for it. It now moves to the House where a vote has not yet been scheduled. The $1.4 billion budget is $45 million — or 3% — less than what legislative budget analysts say is needed to continue existing programming; $72 million less than what advocates say is needed to meet a budget shortfall due to rising costs and inflation; and 0.5% less than what legislators budgeted for the agency during the last biennium. 'Zero to 5-year-olds don't have a strong union or a wealthy lobby, and their parents are tired,' state Sen. Lisa Reynolds, D-Portland, said to her colleagues on the Senate Floor. 'I will be a reluctant 'yes' today on this budget, because something is better than nothing.' Reynolds was one of several lawmakers from both parties who bemoaned cutting funding to an agency that the state made independent in 2023 in part because they wanted it to grow and serve more kids. 'Investing early is the fiscally prudent thing to do. It saves state money down the road, and yet, here we are,' Reynolds said. Sen. Lew Frederick, D-Portland, told his colleagues the budget cuts were due in large part to state economic forecasters predicting a 6% decrease in revenue from the corporate activity tax over the next two years. That tax seeds the Student Success Act fund, which sends $200 million each year to the early learning department. The Legislature on Monday passed a record $11.36 billion budget for K-12 education, an 11% increase from the previous biennium. Senate Bill 5514 includes a 2% cut to all programs offered by the early learning department and 10% cuts to four specific programs: Preschool Promise, Healthy Families Oregon, Early Childhood Equity Fund and Parenting Education. Preschool Promise, which provides free preschool for kids ages 3 and 4 from two-member households where earnings are $40,880 or less and four-member households where earnings are $62,400 or less, would see the biggest cut: $20.2 million. This could take away preschool in 2025 for up to 640 children, according to a letter sent to legislators Friday by a coalition of two dozen advocates, including the nonprofit Portland-based advocacy group Children's Institute. 'Hopefully we don't have to tell 3-year olds there's no preschool for you when you turn 4,' Dana Hepper, policy director for Children's Institute, told the Capital Chronicle. Healthy Families Oregon would see a $4.4 million cut. The program provides support and home visits to parents and families that have or are expecting a newborn. The Early Childhood Equity Fund that provides grants to nonprofits and schools that offer culturally-specific early learning programming in a student's native language or for parents learning a new language with their child, would see nearly $3 million in cuts. Department-sponsored parenting education programs would also see a $400,000 cut. Advocates are asking lawmakers in the House to vote against the budget passed by the Senate or to scale back budget cuts by $10 million to $20 million, not $45 million. They said the downstream effects of the bill will hit a workforce already struggling with low wages, and fewer kids will have access to preschool despite overwhelming evidence that shows it is among the most effective ways to boost equity and student outcomes later in students' academic careers. Advocates in their letter to lawmakers also said the state should be stepping up following federal officials freezing Head Start dollars earlier this year, which was chaotic and strained state providers of the early learning program for kids. The current Head Start budget proposed by President Donald Trump and under consideration in Congress keeps funding for the program flat, advocates said, which will put even more pressure on state programs that are seeing costs and demand rise. 'We are asking those who work with babies and preschoolers in our state to do the same work with less,' they wrote in their letter. If Senate Bill 5514 passes the House, Hepper said, they'll hope to see final fixes that could lessen the impact on early childhood providers in the 'Christmas tree bill' legislators pass at the end of session to deal with last-minute budget needs. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Associated Press
31-01-2025
- General
- Associated Press
Friends of the Children Founder Duncan Campbell Receives Lifetime Achievement Award at National Mentoring Summit
Friends of the Children announced today that its founder, social entrepreneur and philanthropist Duncan Campbell, was honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the National Mentoring Summit's Excellence in Mentoring award ceremony in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 30, 2025. Campbell's visionary leadership and lifelong dedication to improving the lives of children who have the potential to succeed while facing significant barriers has redefined the youth mentoring field in the U.S. 'More than 30 years ago, I focused on the idea that just one long-term relationship can change a child's life for the better,' said Campbell. 'I'm so humbled and honored that Friends of the Children has grown from one chapter with 24 children being served by three professional mentors in Portland, OR, in 1993 to more than 40 sites across the country serving thousands of youth in urban, suburban, rural, and Indigenous communities.' Friends of the Children was founded in 1993 and employs full-time, professional mentors—called Friends—who commit to each child for 12+ years, no matter what. What began as a small organization in Portland, Ore. has now reached over 16,000 children and families in 42 locations nationwide, raising millions of dollars to scale its innovative approach to breaking cycles of generational poverty. It is the first and only long-term, professional mentoring program in the U.S. 'Duncan Campbell's vision and determination have changed the trajectory of thousands of young lives toward hope and opportunities for successful futures,' said U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). 'Friends of the Children exemplifies what happens when innovation meets compassion. I am proud to call Duncan my friend. And all of Oregon is proud to call him one of our own.' Under Campbell's leadership, Friends of the Children has demonstrated that fostering a stable, nurturing relationship with a caring adult can effectively address societal challenges like foster care intervention and childhood trauma. 'Duncan Campbell's unwavering commitment to mentoring young Americans has set a standard for organizations nationwide and reminds us that addressing society's biggest challenges begins with kindness, support, and long-term investment in our children,' said U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas). 'This lifetime achievement award is a testament to the incredible work he has done through Friends of the Children, and I look forward to witnessing the organization's impact for years to come.' Campbell's influence extends beyond Friends of the Children. As a social entrepreneur, he has founded multiple organizations dedicated to the well-being of children and families, including the nationally recognized Children's Institute. His work has earned national recognition, including Civic Venture's Purpose Prize, and his commitment to education has left a legacy at institutions such as the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, and Portland State University. Campbell also spent more than 30 years in the timberland investment and forest industry as the Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Campbell Global timber investment firm. +1 971-201-1214
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Friends of the Children Founder Duncan Campbell Receives Lifetime Achievement Award at National Mentoring Summit
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Friends of the Children announced today that its founder, social entrepreneur and philanthropist Duncan Campbell, was honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the National Mentoring Summit's Excellence in Mentoring award ceremony in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 30, 2025. Campbell's visionary leadership and lifelong dedication to improving the lives of children who have the potential to succeed while facing significant barriers has redefined the youth mentoring field in the U.S. "More than 30 years ago, I focused on the idea that just one long-term relationship can change a child's life for the better," said Campbell. "I'm so humbled and honored that Friends of the Children has grown from one chapter with 24 children being served by three professional mentors in Portland, OR, in 1993 to more than 40 sites across the country serving thousands of youth in urban, suburban, rural, and Indigenous communities." Friends of the Children was founded in 1993 and employs full-time, professional mentors—called Friends—who commit to each child for 12+ years, no matter what. What began as a small organization in Portland, Ore. has now reached over 16,000 children and families in 42 locations nationwide, raising millions of dollars to scale its innovative approach to breaking cycles of generational poverty. It is the first and only long-term, professional mentoring program in the U.S. "Duncan Campbell's vision and determination have changed the trajectory of thousands of young lives toward hope and opportunities for successful futures," said U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.). "Friends of the Children exemplifies what happens when innovation meets compassion. I am proud to call Duncan my friend. And all of Oregon is proud to call him one of our own." Under Campbell's leadership, Friends of the Children has demonstrated that fostering a stable, nurturing relationship with a caring adult can effectively address societal challenges like foster care intervention and childhood trauma. "Duncan Campbell's unwavering commitment to mentoring young Americans has set a standard for organizations nationwide and reminds us that addressing society's biggest challenges begins with kindness, support, and long-term investment in our children," said U.S. Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas). "This lifetime achievement award is a testament to the incredible work he has done through Friends of the Children, and I look forward to witnessing the organization's impact for years to come." Campbell's influence extends beyond Friends of the Children. As a social entrepreneur, he has founded multiple organizations dedicated to the well-being of children and families, including the nationally recognized Children's Institute. His work has earned national recognition, including Civic Venture's Purpose Prize, and his commitment to education has left a legacy at institutions such as the University of Oregon, Oregon State University, and Portland State University. Campbell also spent more than 30 years in the timberland investment and forest industry as the Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Campbell Global timber investment firm. Read the full press release here and view a digital media kit with photos, headshot and bio of Duncan Campbell here. CONTACT: Ariane Le Chevallierariane@ 971-201-1214 View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Friends of the Children
