The Peace Center Offers 'Support Circles' to Prevent Bullying, Two Teenagers Tell Their Story of Painful Bullying Experiences

LANGHORNE -- Twenty-eight -percent of U.S. students in grades 6–12 experience bullying, according to the National Center for Education Statistics and Bureau of Justice Statistics.

Bullying hits youths hard.

Emily Murphy, 18, can attest to that. She was hospitalized in Horsham Clinic for four days. She had told a girlfriend that she wanted to stab herself “with 10 knives.” Her friend told adults at her school.

And she got help before it was too late.

It is important to note that “research indicates that persistent bullying can lead to or worsen feelings of isolation, rejection, exclusion, and despair, as well as depression and anxiety, which can contribute to suicidal behavior,” according to stopbullying.com.

“The vast majority of young people who are bullied do not become suicidal,” the website continues. “Most young people who die by suicide have multiple risk factors.”

At one point, Emily’s best friends turned on her. “They would kick her, spit on her and pull her hair,” said her mother, Jayne Murphy. “One girl said, ‘Why don’t you lie in a ditch and die?’” Her father, Jim Murphy, said, “To be honest, the Support Circles did save her life.”

Emily added, “I started getting bullied when I was in the sixth grade. Girls would throw pebbles and snowballs at my head. They would judge me on what I wore to school.” After breaking up with her boyfriend, “he started telling rumors about me and called me nasty names on Facebook,” she said.

She wants other youths to know that Support Circles at The Peace Center in Langhorne helped her build confidence and self-esteem, gain support from families who have experienced bullying, learn to assertively stand up to bullying, use healthy coping skills to beat a bad day, practice problem-solving tools, make new friends and have fun!

Emily’s father became a board member of The Peace Center to give back for the center helping her so much.

His daughter still attends the Support Circles, which are held on Tuesday nights at 6:30 p.m. at The Peace Center, 102 West Maple Ave., Langhorne. Meetings are set to be held, starting on Tuesday, Sept. 20.

Other locations throughout Bucks County will be announced once families have signed up. Most participants are in middle school, with some late elementary and early high school.

Kate Whitman is director of the Bullying Prevention Resource Center, a program of The Peace Center. “Our Support Circles are often the only safe place that targets of bullying have to be with other kids and experience complete acceptance,” she said.

“Through this safety and empowerment,” Whitman continued, “we've seen kids start to respectfully stand up for themselves, and even our participants who withdrew from school have returned with renewed confidence.

“The Bullying Prevention Resource Center works to support the targets of bullying, in addition to working with those that are the aggressors in bullying situations. Support is also provided for parents to help them navigate the challenges that effect the entire family as a result of bullying. Parents and youth learn strategies that build social and emotional intelligence, confidence and communication.

Sydney Cocker, 16, of Levittown was bullied and because of the center’s Support Circles, has come full circle and is now a youth leader for the group.

She was a sixth-grade student when the bullying started. She started to have problems with kids not wanting to play with her and poking her.” There was a game, “Kick Sydney,” where a couple of the girls would kick her. They would move her desk away from others so she would be sitting alone. No one would want to participate with her in activities.

Sydney did not stand up for herself. “I just lost my self-confidence,” she said. She moved to a different school after seventh grade. “But recently a couple of girls gave me trouble. I basically stood up to them by giving them witty comebacks. They eventually left me alone.”

“The Peace Center definitely helped in my self-confidence and self-esteem,” Sydney said. ”I think it helped me become more me. It established my self-identity.”

The support circles are just one of many programs offered by The Peace Center. To help fund the center, the 19th Annual Peace Center Auction Autumn Gala – Speak Up For Peace will be held Sunday, Oct. 16 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Spring Mill Manor, 80 Jacksonville Road, Ivyland.

Highlights include a Speak Up for Peace video featuring the center’s founders and stories of transformation shared by those affected by bullying.

There will be hors d’oeuvres, drinks and live music. A silent and live auction will include beach vacations, weekend getaways, art, fabulous dining experiences and additional surprises.

Participation in the event supports the center’s mission and goal to change the fundamental way we deal with conflict, violence, racism and bullying in families, schools and communities.

The cost in advance is $60 and $65 at the door. For reservations, please go online to www.thepeacecenter.org

For more information about Support Circles on Bullying, contact Kate Whitman at kwhitman@thepeacecenter.org, call The Peace Center at 215-750-7220 or visit www.thepeacecenter.org Registration is ongoing.