Mahaska Health Partnership Explains Cyberbullying

Mahaska Health Partnership

MAHASKA COUNTY – Today’s teens deal with very different stressors than their parents had during childhood. Not only are they susceptible to bullying in person, cyberbullying can follow them home and stretch into the evening and weekend. Mahaska Health Partnership wants parents to know how to help their children.

“Cyberbullying is a social terror through technology,” New Sharon Medical Center Family Nurse Practitioner Lisa Smith explained. “This can happen through social media including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or other online platforms and apps. Anytime a child is threatened, humiliated or harassed through the internet, it is considered cyberbullying and should be handled immediately.”

The problem with cyberbullying is keeping track of your child’s online presence. “If someone is harassing your child online, it’s easy to be unaware as a parent, due to the sheer amount of ways a bully can communicate with them. However, opening the lines of communication and being involved in your child’s online profiles and activity can help reduce their risk of exposure to harassment.

“Though they may not be thrilled about sharing their online information, being involved in your child’s profiles is often the only way to know if he or she is being threatened or harassed,” Smith continued. “Having a discussion with your child, setting boundaries of what is and is not acceptable online and maintaining open communication is key to protecting their cyber presence.”

One way to keep a close eye on what your child is doing is to keep the family computer in a common area. “I strongly encourage keeping all computers out of private areas of the home, such as bedrooms,” Smith shared. “Not only can they hinder sleep, but it is much easier to hide activity when someone isn’t close by monitoring activity.

“Make a schedule for online and phone time when the family is at home and stick to that schedule,” Smith explained. “It’s not healthy to be sedentary in front of the TV, tablet or computer all night. Setting time limits also helps keep children from being sucked into possible online feuds and chat rooms for extended periods of time. An added bonus will be quality time with the family!”

While setting limits and monitoring online activity are important, educating your children about cyberbullying is equally necessary. “Make sure your children understand what bullying is and that it is not acceptable to give or receive,” Smith urged. “If they witness bullying or are a victim of harassment, make sure your children know to come to you with any concerns. Knowing there are open lines of communication and a safe place to go will help minimize the risk of your child suffering in silence over the words and actions of their peers.”

Family Nurse Practitioner Lisa Smith enjoys caring for patients of all ages in a rural setting at New Sharon Medical Center. She prides herself on being a good listener and always wants her patients to feel well-equipped to continue their care at home. As a mother, Lisa understands the value of reliable information from someone you trust. When patients need advanced care, Lisa works closely with specialists on the MHP campus in Oskaloosa. To schedule an appointment with Lisa Smith, ARNP-C, call 641.637.2651.

Mahaska Health Partnership, located in Oskaloosa, is a non-profit health system accredited by the Joint Commission. It is guided by its mission to provide exceptional customer service and health improvement, linking the science of medicine with the humanity of compassionate care. For more information about how Mahaska Health Partnership is making healthcare personal, visit mahaskahealth.org.