No abstract

Since bullying is an ecological and systemic phenomenon that occurs in multiple contexts with multiple actors, it makes sense to consider the perceptions of multiple stakeholders and their relationships with one another and in relation to bullying prevention in schools. Using a non-probability, purposive sample, this study examined the perspectives of 45 school stakeholders, namely, principals, school social workers, bus drivers, and parents from an urban school district in the Midwest. The study unveils some of the implicit and explicit challenges associated with bullying prevention efforts. For example, bullying can be quite nebulous because people tend to look at the issue through the prism of their own experiences and positions, limiting their understanding of other stakeholders. Some stakeholders’ perspectives may be muted when bullying behaviors are discussed or reported. Overall, the findings support the use of multi-stakeholder approaches in developing a more holistic view of bullying. Recommendations include avoiding the reification of the views and voices of a select few and having a more open system of dialogue among stakeholders to create inclusion when addressing bullying.

Grandparents play an important role in the upbringing of grandchildren and face increased levels of stress. Using family stress theory, the present study examined the effectiveness of service programs for grandparents raising grandchildren. Data were collected through focus group interviews and audiotaped from a sample of four custodial grandparents living in Ohio U.S.A. To better understand grandparents that are raising their grandchildren, we asked the following questions: 1) What support is needed for grandparents raising grandchildren? 2) At what stage is the support needed: beginning, middle or late stages of caregiving? 3) What are grandparent caregivers’ perceptions of service programs? The audiotape was transcribed verbatim and analyzed for themes relevant to the research questions. The findings from these questions are examined and implications discussed.

This study explored previously detained youths' perceptions of the term "mental health" and related stigma. The study also examined how the youth see and compare "mental health" to "counseling" services. Qualitative interviews were conducted with a diverse, purposeful sample of 19 youth aged 11-17 who scored high on the Massachusetts Youth Screening Instrument (MAYSI-2) for mental health disorders. Our findings suggest that participants often found it difficult to disclose that they were receiving mental health services to non-primary friends.Overall, there were negative and inaccurate perceptions of mental health. Furthermore, this terminology was not easily understood and was associated with mental health stigma. Given these negative association with "mental health," our results suggest that this term may be, in and of itself, a significant barrier to accessing treatment that requires further investigation. These findings should prompt researchers, policy makers, and mental health professionals to evaluate alternative names or descriptions of mental health services to reduce both internal and external stigma.