October is National Bullying Prevention Month. We find ourselves in a time in history when bullying exists online just as much, if not more, than it exists in school hallways and in classrooms.  

Cyberbullying is the use of technology to harass, threaten, embarrass, or even target others. This can come in the form of aggressive or hurtful social media posts and texts as well as posting personal information, including pictures or videos with the intention to humiliate others.  

With so many young people accessing information online through a wide range of devices, including cell phones, it is not surprising that cyberbullying comprises an unfortunately common method of bullying today.  

Bullying, whether it’s being promoted in person or online, is an example of childhood trauma, and it can impact brain development and affect a person’s ability to cope and experience a productive life.  

According to StopBullying.org, kids who are bullied are more likely to have depression and anxiety, health complaints, and decreased academic achievement. The organization also suggests that kids with attention hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are more likely to be targets of bullying. Access the full fact sheet on bullying and children with disabilities and special health needs.

We can do something to stop bullying in its tracks.  

Unity Day is coming up on October 18, a day where schools and communities around the country will come together to take a stand against bullying. The call to action is to wear and share the color orange as a visible representation of our society uniting for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. 

Why orange? Since Unity Day is held in October, orange is a color commonly identified with the month. In addition, it is also a color associated with safety and visibility, and orange has been described as warm and inviting. 

I have shared some startling statistics on bullying in the past (see: cyberbullying and unite against bullying), but unfortunately bullying continues to be an issue, in schools and online. Bullying does not target only certain types of people – on the contrary, bullying can affect both men and women of all races, nationalities, shapes or sizes. 

So what can you do to help? 

• Ensure children understand bullying. Talk about what bullying is, how to stand up to it safely and how to get help. 
• Keep lines of communication open. Check in with your children – know who their friends are and ask about school. 
• Encourage children to do what they love. Activities, hobbies and interests can boost confidence and help children make friends. 

• Model how to treat others with kindness and respect. 
• For wonderful information on bullying, bully behavior, and action plans, you can visit https://www.pacer.org/bullying/resources/parents/helping-your-child.asp 

There are also numerous resources online that you can share with your children to help them understand what to do if they see bullying occur. Some include: 

• A series of fantastic cartoon videos designed for children to learn about bullying: https://www.stopbullying.gov/kids/webisodes 
• Designed for elementary school students to learn about bullying prevention and ways to take action: https://pacerkidsagainstbullying.org/ 

At the Elizabeth Lee Black School, students and staff will be wearing orange in honor of Unity Day. Why don’t you? 

On a personal note, after graduation Ryan told me that he had been bullied at school. I asked him for details. He was not forthcoming, so I ended the discussion. Looking back, I wonder now if some of his intense anxiety about going to school was because of bullying. I will never know….