A large group of young people between 13 and 17 years old listened to Dr. Sandra T. Chang and mental health expert Adán Rodríguez talk about hate crimes or situations and cyberbullying (digital harassment), how they affect them and what options have if they are victims.
It was Friday, June 15, at around 7 pm at the Maqueos Music Academic school in downtown Los Angeles, when one of the experts asked the group of young people to raise their hands if they had experienced a hate crime or situation. .
Immediately there was a momentary silence, some students turned to look at each other, and between smiles and hesitation they said no.
A second question sought to know how much knowledge young people had about this topic, but equally, very few raised their hands.
Dr. Chang explained that unfortunately these types of situations in schools were increasing, but students and parents did not always dare to talk about the matter, either due to ignorance, sadness or fear, but silence almost always remained. prevailed.
According to the nation’s Department of Justice, hate crime and identity-based harassment are bigoted acts that have far-reaching implications for society. When we talk about a hate crime, we are talking about a violent crime, such as assault, murder, arson, vandalism, or threats that such crimes will be committed. This may also include conspiracy to commit such crimes.
Regarding youth and hate crimes, the Department of Justice emphasizes that youth participate as victims and as perpetrators of these types of acts, and in the latest numbers available from 2019, 15% of people known to have committed a hate crime was a minor; while during the same period, 22% of young people aged 12 1 18 said they had been bullied in schools.
That is why the doctor wanted to make sure that the students knew what to do if they suffered an experience or attack of hate, that the young people knew that there are options to get help, that they are not alone, but above all, that it is not their fault. of them in case of being a victim.
“There are many reasons why they can occur – attacks or situations of hate – but most of them are due to race, ethnicity, the language they speak, the religion they profess, male or female gender or a combination of genders. , or because of their sexual orientation or physical disabilities, etc.…” explained Dr. Chang.
“It is important that we keep this in mind. Even if we feel that it is something that is happening only to us,” she emphasized. “The reality is that the focus is on hatred towards a group and not towards a particular person.”
The doctor explained that on many occasions the reasons why some groups feel rejection, anger and discriminate against other cultural groups is because of the prejudices they grew up with, some misconceptions about other groups or because they fear diversity, just as they hear that another group is going to steal their resources or they should not have rights, among other reasons.
“[Este tipo de actos] They do not necessarily end in crime, they can be minor attacks, silly comments, but everything can escalate,” he says. “The message today is that there is nothing wrong with you, nor with your family, nor with the place you come from. You are beautiful and whatever happens around you comes from people who may have grown up with erroneous ideas or concepts, but there is always beauty and rights for everyone.”
He added that to date the majority of hate crimes or cyberbullying are based on race and ethnicity, followed by religion (property damage) and sexual orientation.
Adán Rodríguez spoke about how hate attacks or cyberbullying in childhood affect young people with their physical and mental health, and listed a series of effects to which he recommended parents pay attention.
Some consequences may be obesity, isolation, low self-esteem, eating disorders, depression, anxiety, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), poor academic performance and carrying out dangerous activities such as drug use, sexual activities, criminal activities or generating situations that could lead to suicide.
“All of this not only affects our mental and physical health, but also affects our relationships with people and our academic development,” explained the mental health expert.
Rodríguez stressed that by losing interest in school, the chances of not finishing it increase and it will surely affect them in the future by ending up doing an activity that they do not like and with low salaries; However, the ghost of an addiction or illicit activity is always present.
In order not to get lost in that world of negative effects that hate harassment or cyberbullying very often causes, the expert recommended that young people create goals, find something they like, be around optimistic people, verbally repeat positive affirmations to themselves and, if necessary, possible, ask for support or seek counseling or support groups.
Other recommended activities that could also help to deal with the self-esteem generated by bullying could be music, listening to it or practicing it, writing, walking, exercising, practicing yoga, remembering and understanding that we are all different, so some will be better at it. some activities and others in others.
Nobody talks
Some of the students present said that they already knew what harassment or hate attacks meant, and although they had not been victims, they did know or had seen young people at school or on the street who were the target of other young people, but In most cases it was not reported.
One of them was Christofer Mendoza, 15 years old and in 10th grade, who stressed that he had not been a victim of harassment, but said he knew students who had been, but to date, the authorities had done nothing.
“The important thing today is that I learned that there are more options for young people to receive help,” explained the young man born in Los Angeles to Oaxacan parents.
On the other hand, Miguel Martínez, from the eighth grade, said that bullying is present at his school; he even has a friend who was suspended for defending himself against attacks by African-American and white students.
“I feel that the school is very divided between students of different races, but the authorities do nothing,” he explained. “Many people do not report attacks because they are afraid. “They prefer to stay silent.”
Help options
Teen Line: 800-852-8336
Suicide prevention line: 988
Emotional Help: 800-854-7771
To report or receive help: www.lavshate.org
Crisis line: Text “LA” to 741741