One thing that many of us adults have in common is that either we or someone we know has been the victim of bullying. Considering it affects so many lives in such harmful ways, we must come together as a society to address this issue. There's no better time than during October, which is National Bullying Prevention Month, to step up one's involvement and raise awareness about this serious issue.
"We are doing all we can to help address bullying so that our youth can grow up in healthier environments,” said Kirk Smalley, co-founder of Stand for the Silent. "We can't do it alone, though; it's an issue that everyone has to get on board with addressing. The more people who rise and address it, the more successful we will be at alleviating our nation's youth of this damaging burden."
Bullying has been around for many years, but it has been on the rise, in part due to the popularity of social media. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 77% of high school students report using social media frequently, and frequent social media use is associated with a higher prevalence of bullying victimization at school and electronically.
Whether the bullying is taking place in the classroom, in the neighborhood, or on social media, it's incredibly damaging and can have long-lasting implications. According to research published in the journal BMC Psychology, bullying victims have higher levels of mental health problems, worse mental health outcomes, and are associated with serious health problems, including depression, anxiety, and suicidal behaviors. They report that it is also significantly related to psychological distress and reduced levels of psychological well-being.
Considering how prolific bullying is and the nature of how damaging it can be, more people must get involved in rising against it. Here are some ways involvement can be increased:
Schools – Launch an anti-bullying campaign, provide proper training for school staff, and hold an assembly to kick off the event and make it an exciting experience. Additionally, they can offer peer mentoring programs and reward those who speak out against bullying.
Communities – Publicly adopt a community-wide stance against bullying, provide a community pledge that people can participate in, and hold an anti-bullying event. Communities can also partner with local organizations, such as youth centers and police departments, and offer workshops on the topic.
Corporations – Partner with anti-bullying organizations, make donations to support their efforts, launch public awareness campaigns, and provide anti-bullying information to the community. Additionally, they can create a peer leadership program and offer anti-bullying scholarships.
Individuals – Support the organizations and movements that are active in the community or local schools, or start one if there isn't one already in place. Consider writing letters to the editor about bullying, donating time or money to organizations fighting bullying, or organizing a community event.
"Nobody will ever regret getting involved and helping to reduce and eliminate bullying in their community,” added Smalley. "But there may be regrets in not doing more once the issue hits home or touches someone we know. Let’s all work together to address this issue once and for all.”
October is a busy month for Stand for the Silent, as they have launched a partnership with the American Association of Orthodontists for the seventh consecutive year in their "Bullying Bites" campaign. They also have a fully scheduled list of stops to make for the month, conducting anti-bullying assemblies at schools. Additionally, the Stand for the Silent State Scholarships is now taking applications. The scholarship award is $2,500 for each participating state. To read the rules, see the list of participating states, and get information about applying, visit the site at: https://standforthesilent.org/state-scholarships/
Stand for the Silent has created partnerships and is expanding access to suicide prevention resources, offering practical tips and tools for parents, teachers, and students. The resources they provide include downloadable guides, school toolkits, and community engagement strategies designed to help adults recognize warning signs, foster open conversations, and connect young people with the support they need. Each year, the organization also travels the country, visiting schools and communities to hold assemblies regarding bullying and help create a community of support that rises against it.
They have collaborations with schools, civic organizations, MMA fighters (including Irann Orozco and Trey Anderson),and music talents, such as Nacho and Ciscoh, to help amplify the mission of saving young lives. The collaborations will enable them to reach a wider audience and offer more helpful tools. They aim to connect young people with the support and resources they need.
Stand for the Silent travels the country, delivering presentations about bullying to schools, providing bullying prevention resources, offering scholarships, and providing intervention strategies. Those interested in getting involved can start a chapter of the group in their area, obtain a free K-2 bullying prevention curriculum or a cyberbullying handbook for parents, host a presentation at their school, introduce the 'How It All Started' video, and make a donation to help support the cause. To get more information, visit the site at: https://standforthesilent.org/
