All About Bullying in America

Bullying information: What is bullying? Why is bullying an epidemic? Effects of bullying? How can bullying be resolved?

What is Bullying?

Definition: The unwanted, aggressive behavior among school aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time (StopBullying.gov).

Victims of bullying are sometimes referred to as targets. Bullying can be defined in various ways, but often consists of three basic types of abuse emotional, verbal, and physical. Bullying Cultures can develop in school, the workplace, church, neighborhoods, family, and in the home (wikepidea.com).

Bullying can be consistently directed to particular victims on grounds of race, religion, gender, sexuality, or ability.
If bullying is completed by a group, it is called Mobbing, there is also cyber-bullying (bullying online) which is a huge problem.

Why is Bullying an Epidemic?

Estimations show that 13 million American children are teased, taunted and physically assaulted by their peers, which makes bullying the most common form of violence across our nation's youth in 2012 (USA TODAY)

Daily, about 160,000 American children miss school in fear of being physically and psychologically attacked on basis of their skin color, ethnicity, physical or mental abilities, sexual orientation, gender identity or religion. Children are not only affected by bullying, adults and the elderly as well (USA TODAY)

o Bullies: o Can engage in violent/ risky behaviors into adulthood o Abuse alcohol and drugs during teen and adult years o Get into fights, damage property, and drop out of school o Take part in early sexual activity o Have criminal convictions as adults (traffic citations, etc.) o Be abusive towards romantic partners, spouses, or children as adults

Victims: Depression, anxiety, loneliness Loss of interest in previously fun activities, eating & sleeping disorders, Health complaints, Decreased academic achievement, reduced school participation, drop outs are more likely Suicide (huge problem) These issues can follow a child all through adulthood

Effects of Bullying Cont..

Bystanders: Here

Increased

use of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs Increased mental health problems (depression, anxiety) Miss or skip school

is one High School Seniors Story on Bullying and its Effects: https://www.youtu be.com/watch?v= 8RSVwTJ52uI

Image Source: http://k ey.aea 1.k12.ia. us/wdb q/Bullyi ngStud entRole s.htm

Assess the problem and its source in your school (why and where is the bullying happening) Involve parents and youth (meetings, etc.) Create rules and policies against bullying Build a safe environment (anti-bullying environment) Educate students and school staff on bullying, mental health, and their effects Work together, take action

What I Am Doing to Stop Bullying & Help the Community:

Give Anti-Bullying & Mental Health Awareness Speeches at various schools Create a more positive outlook on life for individuals, bullies, bystanders, and victims of bullying My Stories: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pppS68 eX_o http://www.wkow.com/story/20929476/2013/ 01/31/bullied-teen-shares-story-starts-club-tohelp-others

Works Cited:

"Bullying Statistics." -. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 May 2013. "Bullying." Wikepedia.org. Wikemedia Foundation Inc., n.d. Web. 12 May 2013. " ." BullyingStudentRoles. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 May 2013. "Home | StopBullying.gov." Home | StopBullying.gov. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 May 2013. "My Story - Bullying and Its Effects." YouTube. YouTube, 30 Mar. 2010. Web. 12 May 2013. "USA TODAY." USATODAY.COM. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 May 2013.