National Bullying Prevention Month
Break the Silence: National Bullying Prevention Month
October marks National Bullying Prevention Month, a poignant reminder that bullying affects one in five students, with more female students reporting incidents. This alarming reality highlights the need for collective action to create a safe and inclusive environment for all students.
The statistics are staggering. 41% of bullied students fear ongoing harassment, and despite expanded bullying prevention programs, nearly 20% of U.S. high school students reported bullying on school property, with 15% experiencing cyberbullying. The emotional toll on children is immense, with many facing daily anxiety, shame, isolation, and fear of bodily harm.
Recognizing the signs of bullying is crucial. Victims may exhibit:
Torn clothes, unexplained injuries
Few friends, fear of school/activities
Poor grades, mood swings, low self-esteem
Sleep disturbances, nightmares, loss of appetite
On the other hand, bullies may:
Justify bad behavior, shift blame
Have friends who exhibit mean/aggressive behavior
Experience difficulty sleeping, impulsiveness, lack of empathy
Have a history of trouble at school, anger/violence at home
So, what can we do? We can start by educating and celebrating differences through community-wide initiatives. Supporting anti-bullying scholarships empowers students with innovative solutions. Emphasizing respect and inclusion promotes positive change on campuses nationwide.
Taking action requires open conversations, where we calmly discuss our concerns with our children. We can encourage students to speak up and report incidents as soon as possible. As we reward empathy, we place an emphasis on kindness, acknowledging the students and staff members that continually show respect and consideration toward others. Prevention programs engage administrators, parents, and teachers to support students and foster a positive environment.
Let's break the silence and create a compassionate, bullying-free environment for all students.
Getting help for your child is also strongly encouraged. Those that have been bullied will have experienced trauma from it, while those that are bullies typically experienced trauma or event that led to the bullying.
If your child is struggling in this area, contact us today. Our caring coaches can help you create customized lifestyle changes that can support you child during this challenging time by boosting their assertiveness and self esteem, and happiness.
We look forward to meeting with you and helping you take the first step toward enhancing quality of your child's life. Reach out to us via harmonycoachingwellness.com to schedule an appointment.
SOURCES:
https://www.stopbullying.gov/
https://www.pacer.org/bullying/info/stats.asp
https://childmind.org/article/what-to-do-if-your-child-is-bullying/
https://www.rd.com/list/is-my-child-a-bully/