In 2006, October was declared National Bullying Prevention Month. Bullying has devastating effects on children and their families. It can lead to school avoidance, low self-esteem, increased anxiety and depression. Bullying can be verbal, physical, digital (e-mail, text, social media), or be a form of social exclusion. Often it takes place when one person, or a group, is perceived as more powerful, and takes advantage of that situation of power. Students between the ages of 12 - 18 report that the most common forms of bullying include: name calling, spreading rumors, being pushed, tripped or shoved, being forced to do things that they do not want to do, or having personal property destroyed. Students can help to decrease bullying by challenging others to be kind, making friends with someone new, standing up for others, and including peers from outside their social group. Studies have shown that when adults respond quickly and consistently, they demonstrate that bullying will not be tolerated. Over time, this can help stop these unwanted behaviors. Bullying can be addressed at home, in school and in your community by talking about it, creating a safe, supported school environment and implementing community wide prevention strategies.
Pacer.org has many resources available here for National Bullying Prevention Month.
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network has resources for National Bullying Prevention Month available here.