Beaumont Launches Michigan's First Hospital-Based Anti-Bullying Program

Children's Hospital introduced No Bullying Live Empowered or NoBle this morning. The program is the first hospital-based anti-bullying program in Michigan.

"NoBle's purpose is to provide counseling and support to youth and their families affected by bullying," said Marlene Seltzer, M.D. "We also plan to engage in research and development."

Seltzer said the program exists for victims of aggressive behavior, perpetrators and the witnesses of bullying, all of which are at risk for physical and mental symptoms, such as headaches, depression, anxiety, substance abuse and suicide, she said.

"Although most bullying starts in the schoolyard, it often ends up in the health care arena," Seltzer said. "Whether a child has headaches or stomachaches, low self-esteem or anxiety, there is a good chance that child will intersect with the health care system, which is why it is so important that health care be part of the solution."

NoBLE will offer a network of clinical services to children, adolescents, young adults, parents, caregivers and educators who have been exposed to bullying. Contact 248-898-3321 or visit beaumont.edu/urnoble to learn more about how this program can help.

Royal Oak Schools address bullying

The Noble announcement coincided with today's Stand 4Change Day, in which students around the world are promising to stand up to bullying and not be bystanders.

In Royal Oak, the Board of Education introduced its new anti-bullying policy at April’s school board meeting. The policy protects all students from bullying/aggressive behavior regardless of the subject matter or motivation for the bullying behavior. (Read the policy in the attached PDF file.)

The policy requires students and staff members to report “any situation that they believe to be aggressive behavior directed toward a student.” Reports may be made anonymously.

All bullying reports are investigated. If aggressive behavior is found to have occurred, remedial actions include expulsion for students and possible discharge for employees. If necessary, perpetrators may also be referred to law enforcement.

On Wednesday, a group of 65 students  working on documentary projects saw the movie Bully at the in Birmingham. Michael Conrad, a video instructor, said the field trip was designed to introduce students to the documentary film genre and to have a heartfelt discussion on the topic of bullying.

The Michigan Department of Education reports more than 34,000 bullying incidents were reported in the state during the 2010-2011 school year.

Royal Oak High School parent Michelle Wilkinson accompanied the high school students to the Bully screening and walked away "feeling sad" and hoping for solutions.

“We shouldn’t wait until things get extreme—like a child commits suicide—before everyone gets riled up,” she said. “We need to put more adults in the places where bullying occurs.”

Olivia Wilkinson, 14, thought some of the language in Bully was a little risky, but said she wasn't shocked.

"A lot of the things they talk about in the movie we've heard at school assemblies and things. It's stuff we have all heard before," she said. "Still, I think it's probably good for seventh- and eighth-graders to see the movie."