Cyberbullying harms relative

Dear Abby: My granddaughter “Ruby” has been cyberbullied. I suspect a friend of hers who is her on-again, offagain friend. When the girl is “off,” she is cruel, but Ruby is very attached to her.

Ruby has told her dad and me she’s so depressed and has such low self-esteem from it and that she has started cutting herself. Her father is not very concerned, but I am. What’s the next step for me in doing something about this before it has escalated to a level beyond my help?

— Concerned Grandma In Alaska Dear Grandma: Continue to affirm your granddaughter, but for now her online presence and social media should be eliminated.

Consider putting Ruby into activities that will expose her to different people.

However, if she remains depressed to the point of self-injury, your granddaughter may need professional counseling to help her overcome it.

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Dear Abby is written by Abigail Van Buren, also known as Jeanne Phillips, and was founded by her mother, Pauline Phillips. Contact Dear Abby at www.DearAbby.com or P.O. Box 69440, Los Angeles, CA 90069. 22 24 25 26 30 31

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