Club Ophelia, a nationwide anti-bullying program held for 10 to 12 weeks, is creating positive connections with Northampton Area Middle School students who struggle with bullying and self-esteem issues.

The program focuses on the matter of female bullying through mentoring relationships between high school and middle school girls.

“There is evidence-based research to support that high school mentors are more effective for middle school mentees than an adult mentor would be, because of the close proximity in age,” said Crystal Becker, an eighth-grade counselor at NAMS.

She described the bullying dynamics in four words: “Hurt people hurt people.”

Club Ophelia deals with relational aggression and using friendships and relationships to manipulate others.

“I can’t talk highly enough of it because it’s really effective,” Becker said, describing the club’s first meeting this year, held Jan. 17, and how it has progressed so far. “The girls found friends and interacted in positive ways.”

The group meets weekly and discusses ideas about what characteristics a good friend has. It’s a place where girls can come together, share their experiences and build relationships based on trust and mutual support.

Bullying has been a pervasive problem for decades, affecting millions of children and young adults worldwide. It causes emotional and psychological harm, hinders personal growth and development and can even lead to devastating consequences such as depression, anxiety and suicide.

In response to this issue, Club Ophelia promotes anti-bullying and advocating for kindness, empathy and respect.

Club Ophelia was originally founded by Cheryl Dellasega, Ph.D., a relational aggression expert and author of six books on issues that arise in female-to-female relationships. A professor of humanities in the College of Medicine and Professor of Women’s Studies at The Pennsylvania State University, Dellasega’s expertise has led to frequent requests for her training workshops for teachers, therapists and other adults who work with young women.

Many of Club Ophelia’s directors have volunteered to help spread the word. In 2008, Dayna Younis, an NAHS sophomore, was inspired to make a difference in her own community after attending a church retreat where the topic of bullying was discussed.

Younis contacted Deana Ferry, a sixth-grade counselor at NAMS, who knew of Club Ophelia, and together they started Club Ophelia at the high school and middle school levels.

Since that time, Club Ophelia has helped young girls who may experience a significant amount of bullying to gain the confidence and skills to believe in themselves. It teaches the mentees about caring, social skills and healthy relationships. It also teaches the mentees about leadership, positive role modeling, helping others and relationship building. Many of the mentees who join become mentors.

“Club Ophelia has made a difference in so many young girls’ lives,” Younis said. “It gives young girls the opportunity to begin building their self-esteem and confidence and to not let other girls stand in their way of accomplishing their dreams.”

Younis was a high school mentor for three years. After graduation, she began working for Valley Youth House and became the facilitator of Club Ophelia in 2013.

Currently, the Center for Humanistic Change facilitates Club Ophelia, and new members are encouraged to join every day.

Molly Kutz, an NAMS counseling intern, became involved with Club Ophelia this year.

“I wish I would have had something like this when I was in middle school to help with bullying and relational aggression that I experienced,” Kutz said.

So, who was Ophelia? Ophelia was a young woman in the play “Hamlet,” written by William Shakespeare, whose father, brother and boyfriend gave her little credit for having a mind of her own. She eventually drowned herself in a river. She had no female support system nor friends.

Fortunately, the girls who join Club Ophelia have better outcomes than the club’s namesake. The goal of Club Ophelia is to “turn Ophelia upside down” and to help girls see how Ophelia’s life might have been changed for the better.

Club Ophelia is helping girls to develop the skills and qualities they need to succeed in life and to create a kinder, more supportive world.