National Stop Bullying Day

BY: Neighbors’ Consejo|

Bullying is defined as “when someone is being purposefully and often repeatedly hurt either by words or actions, and has a hard time stopping what is happening to them.” Although this definition is quite complete, it does not fully encompass the practice of bullying that ruins more than just the mental health of people around the world.

October 13 was National Stop Bullying Day. It led us to reflect upon the 6 different types of Bullying that occur: Physical Bullying, which happens when kids use physical actions to gain power and control over their targets; Verbal Bullying, when bullies use words, statements, and name-calling to gain power and control over a target; Relational Aggression, which is a type of social manipulation where teens try to hurt their peers or sabotage their social standing; Cyberbullying, when a teen uses the Internet, a smartphone, or other technology to harass, threaten, embarrass, or target another person; Sexual Bullying which consists of repeated, harmful, and humiliating actions that target a person sexually; and lastly, Prejudicial Bullying which is based on prejudices teens have toward people of different races, religions, or sexual orientation[3] .

All these situations generate alarming figures in the United States: 20% (1 out of every 5) of middle and high school students report being bullied each year, 59% of U.S. teens have been bullied or harassed online, and over 90% believe it is a major problem for people their age. Additionally, approximately 1 in 20 adolescents experience suicide (among family or friends) in a single year for these and other causes[3].

The best way to commemorate this day every day of the year is by preventing bullying in any of its forms. It is recommended to learn the warning signs, keep healthy habits, empower kids and youths, report bullying incidents, recruit other parents, and seek help if necessary[4].

References

[1] https://pacerkidsagainstbullying.org/what-is-bullying/

[2]https://www.verywellfamily.com/types-of-bullying-parents-should-know-about-4153882

[3]https://www.meganmeierfoundation.org/statistics

[4]https://www.verywellfamily.com/ways-to-prevent-school-bullying-460755

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