Red Balloon response to 'research showing bullying link to child suicide rate'

Red Balloon continues to be at the cutting edge of educational and therapeutic work, helping to safeguard vulnerable children who have been severely bullied. Half of those who are referred to us have either attempted or seriously considered taking their own lives. Our children have been badly damaged by their experiences, in danger of becoming NEETs of the future. We are the only charity dealing with post-bullying trauma. There are thousands of children avoiding bullying at school, by avoiding school and far too many for whom suicide is the only way out they feel they have.

This group of children are refusing to attend school because of the very behaviour we are all fighting to eradicate at the chalk face, in the classrooms, on the internet, on mobile phones and in the corridors and playgrounds of our schools.

Nationally it is estimated that about 1 in 1000 children drop out of school for this reason.  For some children the pain was unendurable and they have killed themselves. Half of the students referred to Red Balloon have seriously considered or attempted suicide. With a recovery rate of 95%, Red Balloon Learner Centres have a well-tried programme which helps children recover, and are best placed to ensure that young people referred to them have the professional support they need to get back on track.

Dr Carrie Herbert continues: “No child should be left vulnerable to this tragic extent because they’re bullied so severely. Now, more than ever, we need action for these children and young people.  Government and Local Authorities must recognise that there are significant numbers of young people who are vulnerable to this extent and who cannot go to school even though they want to learn. These children are in danger of being on the scrapheap of society, as without an education or a means whereby they can recover their self-esteem from the effects of severe bullying they face a bleak future or no future at all”.

“We do not need more policies, we need action and we need it now!”

The children Red Balloon recovers are our future nurses, teachers, parents, economists, writers, actors, carers and bus drivers. We help them take their rightful place in society and fulfill their potential.

 

-- Posted by Red Balloon - on 13th June 2010 --