Movement to stop bullying and improve the mental health of sufferers
By Liz Lockhart
In July the ‘Mean Stinks’ programme was launched using a Facebook community that gives young women the courage to stand up to 'stinky behaviour'.
Secret Deodorant has teamed up with relatable role models, Amber Riley and Rachel Simmons to start a movement of ‘nice’ . Together they are hoping to give young women the strength to face challenges associated with bullying and mean behaviour. Bullying can lead to depression, anxiety, loss of self-esteem and other associated mental health disorders.
Amber Riley is best known as Mercedes in the hit show Glee and Rachel Simmons is renowned as a relationship expert.
‘I am excited to be part of Secret’s Mean Stinks programme’ says Amber Riley. ‘I know the challenges that young women face, mean behaviour being one of them, and I want to stand strong against bullying by encouraging women to be nice and elicit positive change.’
To help to raise the profile of the campaign Amber ill take part in Facebook Q&A sessions on the Mean Stinks page. She will also appear in print advertising that helps support donations to PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Centre in the USA.
Rachel Simmons devotes her time to working with parents, educators and school leaders to help communities end bullying. Rachel and Secret have created an experience on Facebook that empowers young women by providing tools for them to face the difficulties and drama of bullying.
Secret commissioned a survey of 1,oo young women aged between 16 and 21 to prove that bullying extends beyond school and has intensified with the explosion of cyberbullying. The survey finds that 48% of college-age stdents have experienced or witnessed bullying at college or in the work-place.
This survey revealed that:
- 99% agree that being bullied stinks
- 94% of young women agree social media makes it easier for girls to bully or torment one another
- 73% felt angry and 64% have felt frustrated after witnessing someone being bullied
- 96% are personally concerned about seeing a person being bullied and no one doing anything to help
- 87% agree that social media sites have the power to be used positively in the fight against bullying
Although the proceeds from this campaign will go to the United States of America the information on the ‘Mean Stinks’ Facebook page can help young women to stamp out and stand up to bullying.
