Dianne Grossman Speaks from the Heart at Mallory’s Army Anti-Bullying Event

BLOOMFIELD, NJ – There seems to be an alarming link between technology and teen self-harm.  Recent studies indicate that suicide rates among teenagers have risen to coincide with their ownership of smartphones and use of social media.

The Bloomfield Municipal Alliance Committee and Bloomfield Department of Health and Human Services are taking a proactive approach regarding this troubling trend as they sponsored ‘An Evening with Dianne Grossman’ on Tuesday evening at Bloomfield Middle School.

Grossman did not hold back or mince words during her powerful hour-long talk.  The sad and tragic personal recollection of her daughter’s final days and hours left the auditorium in tears.

“I don’t think social media is a bad thing, but I think our children abuse social media and they are addicted to it,” said Grossman.  “Social media makes billions off the backs of your children.  They store your data, they store your content and you have no say-so.  Children like to believe that the information goes away.  I am here to tell you it does not.”

Citing federal data and two nationally representative surveys of more than 500,000 adolescents, researchers found a strong correlation between the time teens began using smartphones a decade ago and a sharp rise in reports of serious mental health issues.

Grossman also spoke in a straight-forward manner from the heart about how to protect families from the ‘not my child’ syndrome.

“Mallory was full of life,” Grossman said passionately.  “She was a cheerleader, good student, well-liked by her inner circle, a gymnast, sister, daughter, granddaughter, yet hated in the halls of middle school.  The target these four girls placed on her back led directly to her heart.”

More than one out of every five students aged 12 to 18 report being bullied at school; one-third at least once or twice a month, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

“We have to teach children today how to be humanitarians,” said Grossman.  “I believe it is the parent’s responsibility to be in a perpetual state of self-education.  It is our responsibility as parents to constantly educate ourselves.”

Bullied children – whether physical, verbal, social or cyber – are 2 to 9 times more likely to commit suicide.  Research also shows that middle and high school students who bully their peers or are bully-victims are more likely to use alcohol, cigarettes and marijuana.

From 2010 to 2015, a record number of teenagers were reporting depressive symptoms and overloading mental health clinics, while suicide rates climbed for the first time in decades according to an article published last year in the journal Clinical Psychological Science.

“I am saying this (to parents) from hindsight perspective…get involved,” Grossman pleaded.  “Know the members of your board of education, as they speak the language of your community.  They vote or deny programs that could be best benefitted by your community.”

Grossman’s organization uses blue wristbands with Mallory Army’s printed on them to promote awareness and action about the effects of bullying.  The signature bracelets, along with t-shirts and other branded merchandise, were available at the event.

“I share my story in the hopes that we can ‘BLUE OUT’ bullying and make our world a better place,” Grossman added.  “Mallory’s Army is a 501(c)(3) and 509 public charity. We empower children.  We believe wearing a small bracelet on our wrist reminds us to live a bracelet KIND of life — Mallory’s mantra for life.  We honor her by continuing to carry on with her mission.”

The free event was the final session in a four-part series for parents on raising teens in the digital age and was open to residents ages 10 and up.  Approximately 150 spectators were in attendance.  The new series begins in January.

“School bullying is a problem that we must come together to fight, and that begins with honest conversation,” said Bloomfield Mayor Michael Venezia.  “Parents and middle and high school students need to come together in the spirit of Anti-Bullying Month to learn more about how we can do this together.”

Maya Lordo, Bloomfield Municipal Alliance Committee coordinator and assistant health officer for the Bloomfield Department of Health and Human Services, added, “our slogan is ‘Think Different, Think Prevention.’  Hopefully, by shedding light on topics such as bullying, mental health and substance abuse, we can prevent a tragedy such as Mallory’s from ever occurring.”

For more information regarding Mallory’s Army Foundation, visit MallorysArmy.org.