Bullying Prevention Month

By: Jessica Rao

October is National Bullying Prevention Month! Nation wide, school staff and students are encouraged to participate in acts of bullying prevention/ anti-bullying and post photos or videos of their efforts. Orange is the color of unified support for this cause; Students are encouraged to wear orange on October 23rd. Even though it has been around for decades, bullying has reached new levels with the growing availability of technology allowing you to hide behind a screen but say anything.

People say that sticks and stones may break their bones, but words will never hurt them, but this couldn’t be any farther from the truth. Words can hurt. A lot. However, there are still countless people out there who don’t fully acknowledge the impact that their words have on others. These other people, the receiving end of bullies’ words, often times feel scared, alone, and helpless.

This is why all of us need to work together to prevent bullying.

How to prevent bullying:

–  ask your principal if you can post flyers around your school

–  post on social media

–  use anti-bullying hashtags, such as #stopbullying, #stopbullies, etc…

–  If you see someone who is being bullied, stand up for them

–  Tell a trusted adult if you know of someone who is being bullied

–  See if you can start an anti-bullying club at your school

–  Be kind to others at all times

–  Ask if you can put positive sticky notes around your school/on bathroom mirrors to promote an atmosphere of kindness

–  Participate in a run/walk that donates its proceeds to anti-bullying organizations

Now you may be thinking to yourself: “why should I care? I’m not being bullied myself, so why does it matter?” It matters because there are people out there who need YOUR help. You might not think that you can make a difference, but you can. Anything that you do, even if it seems little, makes an impact. You might not be able to solve the entire problem by yourself, but your decision to stand up against bullying will inspire others to stand up, and together we can all solve the problem.

What to do if you are bullied:

– Ask a friend for support

– Ask a family member/ trusted adult for guidance

– use the “How to prevent bullying” suggestions

– save upsetting content to report

For Help:

Stop Bullying Now
1-800-273-8255
Available 24/7

CyberBully Hotline
1-800-829-0067
A hotline that allows students to directly report bullying and other problems anonymously. This system connects to your school and district.

TeenLine
 800-852-8336 
Or text TEEN to 839863
6pm-10pm Pacific Time, every night