Patricia Arquette has used her directorial debut Gonzo Girl to explore the ‘nebulous nature of addiction and co-dependency’ in a fresh look at the story of writer Hunter S. Thompson

As well as being exciting, the start of a new school year can be very scary for some kids – as the toxic dynamic between bullies and the children they target could resume. The prospect of a new year of bullying, or the first experience of being a target for school bullies, can blight the lives of pupils and become something that terrifies both them and their parents, who are often unaware of the persecution of their child. Indeed, new research by the anti-bullying charity The Diana Award for its #BacktoBullying campaign has revealed 65% of children are scared of going back to school, with a third saying the thought of returning to school makes them want to cry. And it’s not just the kids who are scared – the study found half of parents dread sending their children back to school due to bullying. “When the new school year starts it can be an exciting and sometimes unsettling time for children,” points out Martha Evans, director of the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA). “There will be new pupils, new class groupings and, for some, new schools. It can be a worrying time and we’re often told friendships and bullying are high on the list of worries. “Parents should be aware of the signs that their child might be on the receiving end of bullying behaviour, and know how to respond.” Evans says research suggests being bullied can have serious implications for a child’s life chances, with the effects often lasting into adulthood. That’s why anti-bullying training and programmes for schools, including Anti-Bullying Week (November 13-17), are so vital for schools to help tackle the problem. Evans says it’s useful for parents who are concerned about bullying to understand exactly what bullying is, as “it’s not just ‘falling out’ or ‘banter’”. The ABA defines bullying as: “The repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power. Bullying can be physical, verbal or psychological. It can happen face-to-face or online.” What are the signs of bullying? Children might not want to talk about what’s going on, but Evans says warning signs of bullying may include… Coming home with torn clothes or missing belongings. “This could show your child is being picked on physically,” says Evans. Unexpectedly not wanting to go to school. Evans points out that while most bullying starts face-to-face at school, it often then goes online, too. Complaining of unexplained illnesses or headaches. “The stress of bullying can create physical symptoms, or the child may make up illnesses to avoid being bullied at school,” warns Evans. Becoming quiet and withdrawn. Evans says worrying about hurtful behaviour can cause deep anxiety, and children may look upset when they use their electronic devices. “Online bullying is particularly hurtful,” explains Evans, “as it follows a child even after they’ve left the school gates and can continue 24/7.” Children who are being bullied may want to leave for school much earlier than necessary or come home late, says Evans. “Avoiding other children arriving or leaving school is a sure sign something is wrong,” she points out. What should you do if your child is being bullied? Stay calm Evans says it’s important to keep your cool, even though you’re probably feeling angry and upset that your child is being targeted. “You should focus on gently speaking to your child and listening carefully,” she explains. “Your job is to reassure them that it can be sorted out.” Get the facts Talk calmly to your child and establish what’s happened and who did what, and when. Evans advises parents and children to keep a diary of when the bullying happens, and explains: “It will be useful to see the pattern of bullying over time and to share with the school, if and when you speak to them.” Tell them not to retaliate Evans says parents shouldn’t encourage their child to retaliate to bullying, especially through violence, as it can have negative and unpredictable results. “They may be hurt even further, or be seen by those in authority as the problem,” she warns, and suggests instead that parents tell them to walk away and get help. Be aware of mental stress Don’t underestimate the effect bullying can have on a child’s mental health and keep an eye out for warning signs. “Bullying can have a considerable impact on a child’s mental health,” warns Evans, “so if your child is showing signs of serious distress, such as depression, anxiety and self-harm, always see a GP.” Find out what your child wants Parents should ask their child what they want to happen next, advises Evans, and help them to identify their choices, the potential next steps to take, and the skills they have to help stop the bullying. Speak to the school Ask to see the school’s anti-bullying policy, so both you and your child know the process for getting things sorted out, advises Evans. Don’t let them blame themselves Sometimes children can think they’re to blame in some way for being bullied, but Evans stresses: “Make it clear that bullying is never acceptable and if a child or young person is being bullied then it’s others who are to blame, not them.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live What women should do if they experience violence online Athlete who ran over 200km through the desert shares advice for running in a heatwave Women being invited to help shape the future of reproductive healthcare – from period pain to menopause

In Florida's latest attempt to change its education system, the governing body for the state's public universities is expected to vote Friday on whether college applicants can submit results from an alternative test to the SAT and ACT.

Veterans' constitutional rights continue to be violated in two of New Jersey's state-run veterans nursing homes after a lack of basic hygiene and infection control in the facilities allowed Covid-19 to spread "virtually unchecked" in the pandemic's early days, according to a Justice Department report released Thursday.

Gospel singer and Grammy Award nominee Natalie Grant belted out the anthem for the Chiefs vs. Lions NFL opener.

Jazz quintet Ezra Collective have won the Mercury Prize at the Eventim Apollo in London.

Two cable news personalities with little in common — Mark Levin and Jen Psaki — both learned on Thursday that they will be getting increased screen time on their respective networks

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 7, 2023--

By Mimosa Spencer and Dawn Chmielewski PARIS (Reuters) -French luxury goods billionaire Francois-Henri Pinault has reached an agreement for a

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ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 7, 2023--

Elon Musk has revealed the names of the twin children he shares with Shivon Zilis. In an excerpt of Musk’s upcoming biography, published by Time Magazine, author Walter Isaacson wrote that the Tesla CEO, 52, and the Neuralink executive, 37, named their 16-month-old twins, Strider and Azure. On X, formerly known as Twitter, the author also shared the first photo of the family together, with Strider seen pictured sitting on his mother’s lap while Azure was perched on her father’s. Musk and Zilis reportedly welcomed twins Strider and Azure in November 2021, but the news didn’t make headlines until July of the following year. According to Isaacson, although Zilis has been Musk’s “intellectual companion on artificial intelligence since the founding of OpenAI eight years earlier” and shares children with the X owner, the duo are not in a romantic relationship. Reuters reported that Zilis had allegedly confided in colleagues that the twins were conceived via in-vitro fertilisation. Earlier in 2021, Musk also welcomed a baby girl named Exa Dark Sideræl, who goes by Y, with ex-girlfriend Grimes. The couple secretly welcomed the child via surrogate. The “Oblivion” artist and Musk also share a three-year-old son, X AE A-XII, whom they welcomed in May 2020. X’s initial name, X AE A-12, did not follow California guidelines so the couple was forced to comply and made the change. According to Page Six, after three years together, the pair reportedly “semi-separated” in September 2021 before Exa’s arrival. In addition to the children he shares with Zilis and Grimes, Musk also fathered 19-year-old twins Vivian Jenna Wilson and Griffin, along with triplets Kai, Damian, and Sax, with his first wife, Justine Wilson. The triplets were born in 2006, while the twins were born in 2004. According to court documents obtained by TMZ, Vivian, who is transgender, publicly disavowed her father in a petition that asked for a new birth certificate to be issued by the state. In the documents, she wrote that the reason behind her name change was not only her new “gender identity” but also because of “the fact that [she] no longer lives with or wish to be related to [her] biological father [Elon] in any way, shape or form”. According to Musk’s biographer, the tech entrepreneur “was generally sanguine” about his daughter’s transition, but political ideology is what ultimately divided them. "I’ve made many overtures," Musk told Isaacson about his alleged atempts to mend his relationship with his daughter. "But she doesn’t want to spend time with me." Read More First photo emerges of Elon Musk and his baby twins with Neuralink director Elon Musk thwarted Ukrainian drone attack on Russian ships, book claims