October is National Bullying Awareness Month, an opportunity to encourage the nation to take action at the local level to create safe and supportive organizations. Bullying is unacceptable, and comments or conduct that disparage or demonstrate hostility or aversion can not tolerated.
The Impact of Being Bullied
October is National Bullying Awareness Month, an opportunity to encourage the nation to take action at the local level to create safe and supportive organizations. Bullying is unacceptable, and comments or conduct that disparage or demonstrate hostility or aversion can not tolerated.
Being accepting, kind, and inclusive can help improve the world. Together, we can create a world without bullying!
Bullying takes place in multiple domains—home, school, work, parks, social media, text messaging, and neighborhoods.
But the main intervention starts in your home. Are you perpetuating bullying behaviors at home, or are you teaching or practicing acts of kindness? We often judge others based on our cultural perceptions, which are shaped by our experiences and family involvement.
CDC defines bullying as any unwanted aggressive behavior(s) by another youth or group of youths who are not siblings or current dating partners that involves an observed or perceived power imbalance and is repeated multiple times or is highly likely to be repeated. Bullying may inflict harm or distress on the targeted youth, including physical, psychological, social, or educational harm. Common types of bullying include:
Physical such as hitting, kicking, and tripping.
Verbal, including name-calling and teasing.
Relational or social, such as spreading rumors and leaving out of the group.
Damage to the victim’s property.
Bullying can also occur through technology, which is called electronic bullying or cyberbullying. A young person can be a perpetrator, a victim, or both (also known as “bully/victim”).
CDC reports that bullying can result in physical injury, social and emotional distress, self-harm, and even death. It also increases the risk of depression, anxiety, sleep difficulties, lower academic achievement, and dropping out of school. Youth who bully others are at increased risk for substance misuse, educational problems, and experiencing violence later in adolescence and adulthood. Youth who bully others or are bullied themselves suffer the most severe consequences and are at greater risk for mental health and behavioral problems.
Bullying is widespread in the United States. Bullying negatively impacts all youth involved, including those who are bullied, those who bully others, and those who witness bullying, known as bystanders.
Bullying is common. About 1 in 5 high school students reported being bullied on school property. More than 1 in 6 high school students reported being bullied electronically in the last year.
Some youth experience bullying more than others.
Nearly 40% of high school students who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual and about 33% of those who were not sure of their sexual identity experienced bullying at school or electronically in the last year, compared to 22% of heterosexual high school students.
About 30% of female high school students experienced bullying at school or electronically in the previous year, compared to about 19% of males.
Nearly 29% of white high school students experienced bullying at school or electronically in the last year, compared to about 19% of Hispanic and 18% of Black high school students.
Bullying is a frequent discipline problem. Nearly 14% of public schools report that bullying is a discipline problem occurring daily or at least once a week.
The highest number of reports of bullying occurs in middle schools (28%), followed by high schools (16%), combined schools (12%), and primary schools (9%).
The highest number of reports of cyberbullying occurs in middle schools (33%), followed by high schools (30%), combined schools (20%), and primary schools (5%).
Prevention
Victims of bullying are more likely than those who are not bullied to report feelings of low self-esteem and isolation, to perform poorly in school, not to have a lot of friends at school, to have a negative view of school, experience psychosomatic problems (e.g., headache, stomachache, or sleeping problems), and to report mental health problems (depression, suicidal thoughts, and anxiety)
Our children role model what they see and how their parents intervene with others.
Remind your child to be supportive, kind, and inclusive of others at school. By following the 3 R’s of Bullying (Recognize, Report, and Refuse), we help create and maintain safe environments.
Schools are mandated to have a bully prevention policy. Seek information from the school before your child experiences bullying.
Notice changes in your child and ask questions re: friends and how they view school.
Bottom Line
The above information addresses the youth, but as we know, bullying continues in adulthood: in the workplace, on the street, road rage, and the list goes on. We must intervene and protect ourselves and others. Bullying stops with YOU. However, the main intervention starts in your home and your community.
Mental health counseling can benefit people struggling with emotional difficulties, life challenges, and mental health concerns. In therapy, people learn to cope with symptoms that may not respond to treatment right away. Research shows the benefits of therapy last longer than medication alone.
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