School's bullied on anti-depressants | Ipswich News | Local News in Ipswich

PUPILS as young as nine are being prescribed anti-depressants and anti-anxiety drugs to cope with bullying at an Ipswich school, a parent claimed Wednesday.

A mother of two children who attend Ipswich West State School said both were being treated by psychiatrists after suffering severe physical and verbal bullying.

The concerned parent spoke out after The Queensland Times revealed that an autistic boy at the school was given a pocket-sized “stop” sign and stress balls to help cope with bullying.

The eight-year-old youngster had been dangled over a veranda by his tormentors and pushed down a staircase.

In the latest bullying case, the mother said her son and daughter had both been prescribed Lovan – a derivative of Prozac used to treat depression, obsessive- compulsive disorder and panic attacks.

“Sometimes they come home in hysterics,” she said.

“My son has even talked about killing himself. He lashes out, gets angry and has nightmares.

“I’ve been in contact with the school and had meetings but nothing seems to improve.”

Yesterday, Education Queensland sought to defend the anti-bullying strategies revealed this week in The Queensland Times.

A spokesman said the “stop” sign had been given to the autistic pupil as a prompt for him “to think about his actions.”

He added: “The school is in the process of developing a new support plan for this student, in consultation with his parents and specialist staff.”

The boy’s mother said she was keen to develop a plan, but unwilling to agree to any strategy that failed to protect her son.

Read more about bullying...

Bizarre bullying strategy slammed
Bullying rife in workplace: survey
Bullying 'common in jnr army ranks'
Claims school ignores bully reports
Bullying in Aussie schools amongst worst
Teacher sues over 'bullying'
School bullying probe
Bullying rife in schools: report