Guidance Systems presents the complete 5 Program Series: Includes 5 DVDs and a CD-Rom with Complete Lesson Plans. 5 video programs plus a digital workbook with activities, program summaries, discussion questions and further resources corresponding to each video. The series covers topics in health and drugs, sex education, bullying and harassment, as well as present social issues that result from modern day technology.
Subjects: Bullying
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LGBTQ Acceptance: Joey’s Story
When reaching puberty at the age of 12, Joey was coming to the realization that that he was gay. Within his school and community, Joey felt that he was the one gay teenager. This terrified him. He confided in a “friend” who soon spread the word around school. Joey became the target of bullying and ridicule. Then it happened at home. His father could not accept that his son was gay and abandoned the family. Soon after, his mother abandoned him as well, leaving him to live with his “unaccepting” grandparents. He was alone in the world. The only way out, so he thought, was to take his own life. This is Joey’s heartbreaking story.
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Depression and Anxiety: Eleanor’s Story
Eleanor had a hard time fitting in. She was severely bullied through elementary school. High school wasn’t any different but this time it got a lot worse as she became very depressed and developed paralyzing anxiety to the point where she couldn’t breathe. It was physical pain for her. She wouldn’t be able to enter a room full of people nor could she be touched. Life was unbearable. It took time, support and focus but with therapy and medication, Eleanor blossomed into a happy young woman that now study’s psychology in University and works in an institution assisting troubled youth.
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Depression & Self-harm: Brittany’s Story
At the age 14, following a quarrel with a friend from school, Brittany turned to her mother for comfort. Instead of comforting her, Brittany’s mother lashed out at her, calling her selfish. From that day on, Brittany began to internalize her feelings. Her insecurities grew and she turned to drugs and alcohol. At a party with friends from school, her excessive drinking led to sexual abuse. This made things worse. She began to engage in self-harm practice, cutting her arms regularly. The more depressed she got, the worse the self-inflicted harm became until she was hospitalized for it.
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Cyberbullying: Cristina’s Story
At the age of 13, a boy approached Cristina, asking her to be his girlfriend. She declined the boy’s offer and he became angry, threatening that she would regret it. One day Cristina came to school and everyone eyed her every move, whispering and laughing. She felt something was terribly wrong. A friend told her this boy had circulated a nude photo online, saying that it was Cristina, although the person’s face was not seen. She was mortified and ran home. She thought that her parents, the school, and even the authorities would be able to put a quick stop to it, but she was wrong. This devastation turned her into a tormented young woman who could not escape the rumors for 7 years. It destroyed her life as a teenager, broke her spirit, and ultimately broke her will to live.
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Understanding Asperger’s: Sean’s Story
From as early as he can remember, Sean had lived with extreme anxiety. As the years went by, he couldn’t connect with other students. He was bullied and could never understand why. A darkness of alienation grew within him and his parents sought help. After years of searching, finally, a doctor pinpointed Sean’s mental health issues. He had Asperger’s. Armed with this knowledge and treatment, Sean found his way back in the world and learned how to control his disorder. He now helps younger kids who struggle with this mental health disorder.
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Gay, Straight and Accepted
Gay, Straight & Accepted Life can get confusing for adolescents when they begin to develop sexual attractions. Through the perspective of straight teenagers, we meet students coming to terms with how they feel and dealing with the anxiety of “coming out.” Noel became extremely depressed because she did not know how to deal with being a lesbian. We meet Sam, who is a victim of homophobic harassment. He overcomes the bullying by building a support team. In the end students will realize that sexual orientation should not be isolating.
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Rumors, Gossip and Teasing: It Hurts
Rumors, Gossip, Taunting, Teasing and Bullying are all forms of harassment. Harassment is when someone or a group of people target someone else with the goal of making them feel bad. Teasing and taunting might get you angry, but there are healthy ways to deal with it and how it makes us feel. Sometimes the best thing to do is just ignore it. You can avoid people who say mean things. If you see others being bullied and picked on, you should say something to stop it. Helping the person being picked on will help you feel good about yourself, too.
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Bullying: There’s Always a Way Out
Bullying has moved past face-to-face interaction. Junior High and High School students present real-life scenarios of bullying, including bullying through the internet, texts and video. Difficult and distressing situations in a variety of settings are addressed, followed by both unproductive actions and resolutions that work. This program covers bullying from its painful beginning to its peaceful end.
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Teens 101: Educational Mental Health series
Teens 101 is a multi media initiative towards reaching, guiding, empowering, inspiring youth through the issues that can affect their mental health and well being. The series communicates, from a youth’s perspective, topics such as: depression and anxiety, addiction, self harm. mental illness, bullying, body image, self worth, family dysfunction, racism, sexuality, and LGBTQ.