Outreach

The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that every seven minutes a child is bullied at school. Every day, 160,000 children miss school due to a fear of being bullied (National Association of School Psychologists); those who attend may have difficulty concentrating on their school work. Children who are bullied by their peers are also more likely than non-bullied children to suffer from depression and low self-esteem, headaches, stomachaches, poor appetite, nervousness and fatigue. Sometimes children turn to violent behavior to protect themselves or get revenge and, in rare cases, children who are bullied may feel so desperate that they talk about or attempt suicide.

Bullying can also affect children who are bystanders. Children who observe bullying may feel anxious (perhaps they will be targeted next?) or guilty (for not intervening to stop bullying). Over time, children who observe frequent bullying may feel less and less empathy for a victim.

It is imperative to address this epidemic, but a common misconception is that one assembly, a zero-tolerance policy, anger management training or self-esteem boosting strategies, group treatment for children who bully, or simply posting rules against bullying will stop bullying from occurring (Stop Bullying Now!). Bullying prevention involves a total commitment from all school personnel (faculty, staff and administrators), parents and caregivers and students to provide a safe and secure learning environment.

The Bullying Prevention Institute offers CE sessions for school personnel and other professionals at no cost to your school, as well as resources to share with colleagues and information you can share with parents and students to help guide their prevention efforts.