Suicide Prevention

In the United States, the second leading cause of teenage death is suicide; laws that promote awareness and education about Cyber-Bullying are needed to help prevent more situations like that. Due to the growth of technology in American society, the younger generations are adapting to the excessive use of computers, cell phones, and social media. According to a study done by Amanda Lenhart, 87% of children who are between the ages of 12 and 17 are using the internet on a daily basis (Trolley, Shields, and Hanel, Demystifying and De-escalating Cyberbullying in the Schools). Numerous children are harassed virtually by the use of technology and these numbers are increasing across the nation daily. Cyber Bullycide is defined as the relationship between cyberbullying and teenage suicide has been named. Studies show that 1/3 of teenagers who have used the internet have stated that they have received threatening or offensive messages either through e-mail, text social media, Instant messages, and other forms of technology-related programs. In 2007 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officially labeled electronic aggression also known as cyberbullying as an emerging public health problem (Billitteri 387). Physical bullying mostly occurs on school ground and has been overpowered by harassment through the Internet and other technological resources. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary cyberbullying, is being defined as the electronic posting of mean-spirited messages about a person (such as a student) often done anonymously? Many believe that in some cases cyberbullying is a new manifestation of what used to occur as traditional bullying (Billitteri 387). Middle school students are a specific age group/grade that is involved with this trend because their prime means of communicating with one another involve chat rooms, Instant messages, and E-mail. Cyberbullying is mainly seen through cell phones, personal websites or Social- media websites, E-mails, personal polling websites, and chat rooms. Many adolescents feel more comfortable, confident and powerful behind a computer screen hiding from doing such an act in person at school. Written in an article by Robin M. Kowalski, between 49% and 70% of victims do not know who is virtually bullying them making the perpetrator ultimately anonymous (Robin M. Kowalski, Cyberbullying). The Perpetrator often wants to remain incognito because of the fear the fear of being caught by an authority figure thus, resulting in the removal of their electronics, outings etc. Another reason could be because they feel more powerful and useful behind the scenes due to an underlying reason at home. There are varieties of element that persuade and add to an individual to target someone through cyberbullying. The most widely recognized reason is that many to menace in striking back for being an unfortunate casualty through the conventional type of cyber-bullying. Another reason that an individual may take part in cyberbullying is to gain a feeling of power and have control over other individuals making them feel better about themselves. Tragically, many young people do it simply because of their boredom and as a form of having some good times. Despite the fact that cyberbullying is increasing in teenager, adults are being affected as well. Confirmation of this is seen through web journals, online postings and mysterious segments on newspaper website. Human Rights Watch, an advocacy group in New York, stated, various sex offenders have been main focuses of viciousness from other people, therefore, they took it upon themselves to eliminate sex offenders from their communities, which demonstrate that cyberbullying can transpire (Billitteri 396). As cyberbullying increases, Congress alongside with schools nationwide is taking action aiming to improve online safety. As technology in the 21st Century grew and continues to grow in the American society. The year of 1997 marked the first year of research interested in Internet crimes committed against youth online. The National Youth Internet Survey found that 1 out of 17 kids was harassed or threatened through the Internet. In 2000, the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act came in place, giving parent's the power to decide what information could be collected or used online for children under 13 (Billitteri 399). By perceiving the signs and indications of suicide and knowing the accessible resources, at that point an individual could respond quickly to avoid young suicide. In the event that an individual knows about an adolescent being self-destructive, that individual can encourage the self-destructive young person and let them realize that there are individuals out on the planet that care about them. The self-destructive young person is not being rejected. It is imperative for adolescents to perceive the significance of acting rapidly to deflect their friends from submitting suicide. An adolescent who is considering suicide should converse with one of their friends or relatives who have a great deal of information about how to manage suicide, so they can help.

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