Oct 2019 22
October is National Bullying Prevention Month and National Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The Division of Behavioral & Mental Health Services (DBMHS) is pushing back against violence in native communities through prevention education and comprehensive services. We are promoting and fostering health and harmony to prevent incidents of violence between peers and loved ones.
When it comes to school-aged children, awareness and identification of bullying signs can help parents and teachers prevent aggressive behavior. Bullying includes actions such as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose. Bullying can also take place through technology, known as cyberbullying: text messages, emails, social networking sites, pictures, videos, websites, etc.
Closely related to bullying is domestic violence, which is essentially bullying within a domestic relationship setting. Individuals who have been traumatized by bullying or domestic violence are more likely to perpetuate those behaviors with the next generations of native youth. By understanding the cause of anger, we can avoid perpetuating violence and abuse and end the intergenerational trauma that has hindered native families.
DBMHS provides services for both victims and offenders of violence and bullying. If you would like more information, please contact your local outpatient treatment center or call (928) 871-6240/6235.