It used to be that when kids were bullied, it happened in the streets or the classroom. At one time, it was seen as a childhood rite of passage.
But with the advent of social media, bullying has gone online. Today, it can include physical bullying, emotional bullying, cyberbullying and sexting.
As we begin National Bullying Prevention Month, we must understand that bullying has far-reaching and sometimes deadly results. It’s estimated that one out of five students between the ages of 12 and 18 are bullied every year.
Students who experience bullying are at increased risk for depression, anxiety, sleep difficulties, lower academic achievement and dropping out of school.
Created in 2006 by the PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center, National Bullying Prevention Month started as a week of awareness but evolved into a month-long observation in 2010. It’s a nationwide call to action designed to educate everyone about their role in preventing bullying.
The National Bullying Prevention Center offers several activities that schools and families can use to bring attention to the issue. One of those is Unity Day on Oct. 16, the signature event during which individuals, schools, communities and businesses wear orange to unite for kindness, acceptance and inclusion to prevent children from being bullied.
Visit pacer.org/bullying/nbpm