By Don Tagala, ABS-CBN North America Bureau

Oct 7, 2010

MANHATTAN, NEW YORK  – October is National Bullying Prevention Month.

Coincidentally, in the past few weeks, suicides resulting from bullying online and offline headlined the news such as the 18- year old Tyler Clementi who took his own life after his roommate allegedly posted his web video having a same-sex sexual encounter in his own bedroom.

Psychologist and Author Dr. Kevin Nadal said, “It’s a very real problem and really touches close to home, I mean as a youth I remember feeling very isolated, different, abnormal, feeling like I was all alone, while I didn’t go that route I could see why someone would like to end their life.”

Nadal said suicide ideation is not uncommon and tends to be higher among Filipino American teen-age girls compared to their Asian American counterparts.

Nadal also said that the youth today, especially those who are bullied in school and on the internet feel that life is not worth living.  He added that the best way parents can help is to be more engaged with their children.

“Perhaps if these youths were able to talk about their problems, seek the help and get the guidance and validation that they need, perhaps they wouldn’t become depressed,  even more so perhaps wouldn’t lead to suicide,” said Nadal.

Nadal warned parents though that talking about just school and work is not enough, “Maybe parents need to ask their children; How is your day today? How are you feeling? Have you been feeling depressed lately? Or certain issues we try to avoid talking about but are very important .”

Nadal was recently honored by the Kalusugan Coalition for pushing the envelope when it comes to mental health in the Filipino -American community.

Kalusugan Coalition’s Board Chair Noilyn Mendoza said, ”He is doing really cutting edge research that is showing what mental health issues are especially in the Filipino-American adolescent community, but he is also documenting the experiences through the book that he is doing.”

Dr. Kevin Nadal’s newly released second book on the Filipino-American Psychology is a collection of real-life personal stories and experiences of Filipino Americans.

He is hoping that when young readers know and hear that other people have similar experiences with their own, it can make a big difference in their life and somehow help save someone’s else’s life.

Dr. Kevin Nadal’s new book is now available online and in major bookstores.