Bullying Awareness

Since October is Bullying Prevention Awareness Month we would like to do a post about bullying.

Bullying can happen to anyone, children are not the only people bullied. Adults in relationships or even at work can be bullied on a regular basis.

Bullying can be described as harm done to an individual through physical, emotional, or verbal abuse by someone who thinks they are stronger than the individual. People can be belittled, picked on, or even have rumors spread about them.

Bullying is not a part of life, and no one should have to live with being bullied, especially with all the stories in the media recently of how bullying led children and teens to suicide.

Many people are bullied for two main reasons:

• Their appearance
• Their social status (including sex, religion, race and sexual  identity)

It is terrible that some children wake up scared because they are worried they will be bullied at schools. Our students should be safe in school, because that promotes a better learning environment.

So what are ways you can get help?

Tell a trusted adult. It can be as simple as that. Students can tell a teacher, principle, coach, or even their parents. The most important time to tell an adult is if a threat occurs. Bullying may escalate from verbal and emotional abuse to physical abuse. Always tell an adult if someone has threatened someone’s safety and well being. 

Kidshealth.org gives people some survival tips when it comes to bullying including:

• Ignoring the bully and walk away
• Don’t show bully your true emotions, sometimes if you act like it doesn’t affect you they will leave you alone
• Practice confidence
• Talk about it to your teachers, counselors, etc.
• Find some good friends who accept you for who you are

Understanding why a bully tries to hurt people is also important. According to an article from ABC News, bullies are nearly twice as likely to have mental health disorders.

As always, don't forget to follow us on Twitter!

-Maxwell Law