September | October 2018

Administrator’s Video Message: October Is National Bullying Prevention Month

October is National Bullying Prevention Month, a time when organizations and individuals across our country renew their commitment to stop aggressive and intimidating behavior by young people in schools, in the community, or on the Internet.

Bullying is a prevalent—and serious—problem. According to the latest report by the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the National Center for Education Statistics, about one of every five students ages 12 to 18 experiences bullying.

Cyberbullying, which involves bullying through technology such as computers and cell phones, is a particular challenge; it's often invisible to parents, teachers, and other adults who might otherwise be able to intervene. It's not only invisible, but it can affect the young person being bullied, relentlessly, at any time of the day or night.

The consequences for those who are bullied can include depression, substance abuse, and, in some cases, suicide.

One thing we know for sure is that when adults respond quickly, decisively, and consistently to bullying, students get a clear message to stop this behavior. We also need to teach kids how to identify bullying and how to safely stand up to it.

All members of the school community—including parents, administration officials, teachers, and counselors—can play a role in ensuring a safe school environment by building a bullying prevention strategy.

Our Office has published a law enforcement guide on cyberbullying as well as a School-Based Bullying Prevention Implementation Guide. Our Model Programs Guide lists evaluated bullying prevention programs and their effectiveness.

To learn more about how OJJDP is working to prevent and address bullying, read our September/October newsletter on our website at OJJDP.gov.