By AMY RICKER
Great Bend Post
We've all heard the saying, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me." Years ago, children were advised to say this simple chant to other kids who were being mean to them.
These days, however, we know that words can hurt and, in some cases, can lead to depression and suicide.
Great Bend Police Lieutenant Heather Smith and Officer Ethan Thomas recently gave a presentation at USD 428 Middle School that addressed this sensitive topic. Lieutenant Smith says there has been some bullying reported at the school, and they wanted to be proactive to reinforce to the students that bullying can lead to depression and suicide.
"The correlation that we see here are the kids who have underlying issues," says Smith. "There's only so much they can handle appropriately. It's like having bricks stacked on their shoulders, and bricks continue to be added on more and more until they can't cope anymore. It's all about creating awareness."
Sadly, Smith says that many bullying cases are never reported due to the social stigma of being labeled a "snitch."
"This isn't a snitching situation. You could potentially save a life by stepping up and saying something. I tell them that law enforcement and the school rely on kids to tell them what's going on," explains Smith.
Smith says she gives students her contact information and tells them not to hesitate to send a message if they witness a bullying incident or if they know of a child who is showing signs of depression or suicide. She explains that the reporting child's name will be kept confidential. Smith says all schools should have a no-tolerance policy against bullying, which USD 428 does.
If you know of a child experiencing bullying at school, reports can be made online at great bend schools.net.