Create a safer school environment by addressing bullying and cyberbullying.
Bullying and cyberbullying threatens students’ physical and emotional safety and can impact their social and academic success at school. There are a number of reasons behind school violence; in some cases, being the victim of bullying could play a contributing role.
In a 2017 study about bullying, 20 percent of students aged 12-18 said they were bullied at school. Thirty-four percent of youth report being cyberbullied in their lifetime. Bullying is associated with negative outcomes for those who are bullied, including substance use, suicide, and impacts on physical and mental health.
Everyone at school can work together to create an environment where bullying is not acceptable. Districts and schools should adopt policies to help prevent bullying and cyberbullying, such as school climate initiatives and support for digital citizenship and positive character development. Procedures for monitoring student behavior in school and online can help schools identify at-risk behaviors and provide interventions before they create safety issues.
Featured Resources
These resources are a starting point for learning about bullying and cyberbullying. Use these resources to support the implementation of anti-bullying initiatives at your school.
Webpage
StopBullying.gov
Department of Health and Human Services
This webpage contains resources for youth, parents, schools and others to better understand bullying and cyberbullying, including the warning signs, those particularly at risk, and prevention tips.
Webpage
BE BEST Initiative
The White House, May 2018
The mission of BE BEST is to focus on some of the major issues facing children today, with the goal of encouraging children to BE BEST in their individual paths, while also teaching them the importance of social, emotional, and physical health. BE BEST will concentrate on three main pillars: well-being, online safety, and opioid abuse.
Webpage
Prevent Bullying
Department of Health and Human Services, October 2018
This website provides information to the general public on bullying, such as definitions of bullying and tools to prevent bullying in schools.