Schools urged to include anti-cyber bullying program

Schools were urged to include an anti-cyber bullying program in their curricula to create awareness among their students and prevent episodes of harassment in social media sites.

“Being feared is actually being insecure,” said Dr. Pureza Trinidad-Oñate, president of the Asean Federation of Psychiatry and Mental Health in yesterday’s press conference at the Kapihan sa Philippine Information Agency (PIA).

Both the Philippine Psychiatric Association (PPA) and the Philippine Mental Health Association (PMHA) are campaigning for the inclusion of an anti-cyber bullying program in each school’s curriculum.

Dr. Glenda Basubas, chairperson of the PMHA-Cebu chapter said teachers and parents should also be educated on how to help prevent cyber-bullying among youths.

Oñate said cyber-bullies tend to acquire a “sense of power” through their peers, where they felt strong and belong.

“It (bullying) can never happen in front of the adults. Bullies would conceal themselves,” Basubas said.

An informal survey by the Stop Cyberbullying Philippines group on the last quarter of 2012 showed females engage more in cyber-bullying at 57 percent compared to males at 43 percent.

“Females bully by gossiping, creating rumors through Facebook,” Basubas said, describing cyber-bullying as “creative bullying” since words are used in tandem with photo-shopped images to hurt their victims.

Basubas said Facebook is the number one platform used for cyber-bullying attacks with cell phone calls a distant second. Cyber-bullying focuses on the person’s reputation, appearance and the victim’s opinion, she said.

Oñate said victims of cyber-bullying are usually in their first to fourth year high school based on interviews with patients. On average, Oñate said they treated five teenage patients a month.

Oñate, also the medical director of the Cebu Perpetual Succour Hospital, said schools are one of the frontliners in the campaign against cyber-bullying. She also said parents should engage their children positively on the issue.

Elita Cui, guidance Counselor of the University of Southern Philippine Foundation (USPF) agreed, saying parents should also practice open communication at home and monitor the online activities of their children.

Basubas said the PPA and the PMHA are also considering a partnership with Internet cafes to help teachers and parents for this purpose. Correspondent Tweeny Malinao