October is National Bullying Prevention Month. As a school community, we want to encourage everyone to stay informed about the signs of bullying, the impact it can have, and what to do if you see it happening.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines bullying as behavior that is:
Unwanted: The behavior is not wanted by the victim.
Aggressive: The behavior involves some form of aggression, such as physical force, threats, or intimidation.
Repeated: The behavior happens more than once or has the potential to happen again.
Acts of bullying may involve physical contact, words or gestures, or social exclusion. Bullying can happen in person or online.
The signs of bullying include:
Physical signs: bruises, cuts, torn clothing, missing items
Emotional signs: changes in mood, withdrawal from friends and activities, anxiety, depression
Behavioral signs: aggressive behavior, changes in eating or sleeping habits, truancy
Social signs: being excluded from activities, being made fun of or called names
If you see bullying happening, it's important to do something. Here are some things you can do:
Talk to the bully and tell them to stop.
Talk to the victim and offer your support.
Report the bullying to a trusted adult, such as a teacher, counselor, or parent.
If you or someone you know is being bullied, there are resources available to help:
Together, we can create a safe and supportive school community for all students!