Streamwood facility organizes bullying awareness events

Streamwood Behavioral Healthcare Systems united with communities nationwide to educate and raise the awareness of bullying prevention.

The Streamwood Campus organized activities and various events to discuss bullying and prevention techniques through art and expressive therapy, informative group discussions, special projects/activities and role plays to help raise awareness about bullying and cyberbullying. Bullying and cyberbullying is a major problem among students in the United States. Over 3.2 million students are victims of bullying each year.

According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network, bullying can be verbal, physical or done over the Internet. It can severely affect the victim's self-image, social interactions and school performance. School dropout rates and absences are also higher among victims of bullying than other students. Bullying affects the person and witnesses. It can lead to depression and anxiety, increased feelings of sadness and loneliness, changes in sleep and eating patterns and may result in a loss of interest in activities that were typically enjoyed.

SBHS feels very passionate about this topic because the hospital provides behavioral health care services for children and adolescents who can be victims of bullying and cyberbullying in their schools and communities. Risk factors, warning signs, effects and prevention techniques for bullying were emphasized throughout Streamwood's behavioral health care system. Within the Inpatient Hospital, an Anti-Bullying Group was also added to educate children and adolescents on the different types of bullying, reasons why it occurs, negative effects and the appropriate way to respond.

Patients and families are so appreciative for the educational training and resources that they received on the prevention of bullying through services at the Inpatient Hospital, Outpatient Services and Innovations Academy Therapeutic Day School. National Bullying Prevention Month was a great opportunity for the hospital to combat bullying and cyberbullying by giving consumers the tools that they can employ when returning back to their communities.

SBHS promotes H.O.P.E - through Healthy Opportunities in a Peaceful Environment. For information about mental health or Streamwood Behavioral Healthcare System's full continuum of behavioral health care services, visit www.streamwoodhospital.com or call (800) 271-7790.