October marks National Bullying Prevention Month, a crucial time to raise awareness around the impact of bullying, and to promote efforts to create safer, more inclusive school environments for our children. The Anti-Bullying Alliance defines bullying as, “The repetitive, intentional hurting of one person or group by another person or group, where the relationship involves an imbalance of power” (Anti-Bullying Alliance). Bullying can take many different forms, including physical, verbal, and psychological. Moreover, bullying does not have to take place in person, with cyberbullying prevalence rates increasing between 2020 and 2023 (Rodwell).
In Connecticut, bullying incidents are on the rise, with 822 counts of bullying incidents reported in 2021-2022, and 1082 incidents reported in 2022-2023. According to 2023 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 19% of high school students were bullied on school property during the past year (CDC). Bullying impacts one’s emotional state, leading to greater reports of loneliness, anxiety, and lower self esteem (Bond). While these statistics are striking, it is also crucial to note that these reflect only the reported cases of bullying: unfortunately, a substantial amount of bullying cases go unnoticed, unreported, and unresolved. With numbers as alarming as these, it’s more important now than ever to address these issues.
To effectively combat bullying, parents, educators, and community members need to educate children about its forms and implications. By fostering an education of bullying, children will be better equipped to identify it. Furthermore, it is imperative to cultivate a narrative amongst children that emphasizes the importance of intervention: we must teach children to feel empowered to intervene when they witness bullying, whether this is through informing a trusted adult or, when safe, intervening directly. Moving away from a passive, bystander mentality is necessary to break the cycle of ongoing bullying among children today. Additionally, encouraging open dialogue is extremely important in mitigating bullying in our community. Children require a safe and constructive outlet to discuss their experiences where they can voice their concerns and any questions they may have surrounding bullying. Lastly, it’s important to educate children on their school’s anti-bullying policies and procedures. Connecticut General Statutes Section 10-222d require all Connecticut schools to both develop and implement a bullying policy. Policies can be located in student handbooks and any other policy manuals distributed by the institution.
National Bullying Awareness Month is not only an opportunity for reflection and education, but also as a catalyst for action. By educating ourselves about the complexities and prevalence of bullying, we can subsequently teach our children about the importance of intervention. Ultimately, the goal is to cultivate an environment of kindness and respect where everyone feels valued- an undertaking that extends far beyond just the month of October. For more information regarding mental health, please visit https://www.preventionwesthaven.org/areuok
References
Anti-Bullying Alliance. (n.d.). Definition of bullying. Retrieved October 1, 2024, from https://anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk/tools-information/all-about-bullying/understanding-bullying/definition#:~:text=The%20repetitive%2C%20intentional%20hurting%20of,Definition%20of%20bullyingBond, L. (2001). Does bullying cause emotional problems? A prospective study of young teenagers. BMJ, 323(7311), 684-686. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC48131/Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2023). Youth Risk Behavior Survey: 2023 data summary trend report. Retrieved October 1, 2024, from https://www.cdc.gov/yrbs/dstr/pdf/YRBS-2023-Data-Summary-Trend-Report.pdfConnecticut State Department of Education. (n.d.). Bullying and suspension rates. Retrieved October 1, 2024, from https://public-edsight.ct.gov/students/suspension-rates/bullying?language=en_USRodman, A. (n.d.). Has the COVID-19 pandemic affected cyberbullying and cybervictimization prevalence among children and adolescents? A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10218135/