Documentary Offers Insight Into Bullying at Schools

Experts say more than 13 million kids -- some from Newport Beach -- will be bullied this year and the effects can be deadly. That's the message the documentary "Bully" is working to convey to audiences nationwide.

The anti-bullying documentary premiered in Newport Beach Tuesday night at the and attracted members from the Orange County Film Society, local students and members from Corona del Mar High School's Human Relations Council (HRC). The documentary is set to be released on Friday, March 30 and highlights a group of kids and parents who have been affected by bullying in schools.

"If you look at the physical scars of bullying they disappear really quickly, but the emotional scars stick with us forever," said Jerry Weichman, a licensed clinical psychologist and expert on bullying from Hoag Hospital. "If you can recall a time when you were bullied it pops up in two seconds, even on your death bed you can recall it."

The documentary shows both physical and verbal abuse at schools and the effects it has on the victims including suicide. In the film, the victims were powerless against their bullies and had little or no support from school administration, parents and other students. Kevin O'Grady, executive director for the Orange County Gay & Lesbian Center, said there are numerous victims out on the community that are in similar situations.

"Two things that stood out for me in the film was the powerlessness of the teachers, administrators, parents, everyone who was in the universe of the kid that was picked on," O'Grady said. "The second was how the film focused on rural areas, but there's no difference rural, poor, rich, with kids that are picked on and the level of bullying, it's all the same."

In Newport Beach students have joined together at Corona del Mar High School to promote positive action and change through the HRC. The group works weekly to keep bullying at bay by teaching other students to respect and accept students of all backgrounds.  

"There's no such thing as an innocent bystander. I have to take myself out of my comfort zone and you have to do everything you can to help someone who's being bullied," said group member Katie Steinberg. "Like the film says, one person can make a difference."

Bullying Tips:

• "Students need to stand up and speak out for other students if they see bullying before it escalates into something physical in the future," - Kiefer Cohen, student. 
• "People put each other down and laugh about it. Try to convey a positive atmosphere. So people will think twice about bullying someone because they don't want to look bad," - Oren Shaolian, student.
• "Don't minimize the challenge. Parents have to be part of a very important conversation that involves school administration," - Dr. Kevin O' Grady.
• "Parents don't see what their kids are doing online.  The kids and teens in our community need to be first responders. You need to monitor what's going on," - Dr. Jerry Weichman.
• "Kids will hint two or three times that they are suicidal before they actually attempt it. That's why it's important you say something when you hear something like "You're fat, You're ugly", "Nobody likes you", "You should just kill yourself," - Dr. Jerry Weichman.