Frequently asked questions
Bullying involves the repeated exposure of one person to physical and/or relational aggression where the victim is hurt with teasing, name calling, mockery, threats, harassment, taunting, social exclusion or rumors.Bullying can take many forms and occurs across the lifespan. It can occur in multiple settings including schools, "after school" programs, in the neighborhood, over the internet and cellular phones, at home between siblings, dating relationships, at summer camps and in organized athletic activities. Cyberbullying has added a new dimension to bullying because of the 24 hour access by way of social networks and texting.Bullying is a common problem. In a large scale study of schools, reports of bullying range from 1 in 4 students report feeling excluded by peers and 1 in 10 students report being a victim of physical bullying.All involved in bullying, including victims, bullies and bystanders, are at increased risk for mental health problems.
Bullying has far reaching effects on the victim, the bully, and the bystander.Victims of bullying are at increased risk for depression, anxiety, health complaints, eating disorders, school absenteeism, running away, alcohol and drug abuse and self-injury, accidental injuries, poor school performance, and suicidal behaviors. They are also at risk for becoming a bully.Bystanders are likely to feel guilt regarding inaction and may fear that their environment is unsafe. They may feel powerless or may be drawn to participate in bullying. Bystanders are at increased risk for developing depression and anxiety problems, abuse drugs and alcohol, and miss school.Bullies are at increased risk for getting into fights and committing crimes. They are more likely to abuse alcohol and drugs as a youth and to drop out from school. As an adult, those who have bullied are at increased risk to have criminal convictions and being abusive toward their romantic partners and children.
Any child regardless of age or gender has the potential to be bullied. However, certain populations are more vulnerable due to disability, sexual orientation, physical appearance, and numerous other factors including race, gender, income and religion.
What are some warning signs that a child is being bullied?
Be observant for:
What are some warning signs that a child is being bullied?
Be observant for:
- Missing personal items
- Physical complaints hoping to stay home from school
- Changes in eating and sleeping habits
- A drop in grades
- Unhappiness regarding school or trouble over behavior
- Defensive over behavior and attitude
There are many warning signs that could indicate that a student is involved in bullying, either by bullying others or by being bullied. However, these warning signs may indicate other issues or problems, as well. Below is a list of common signs:
Being Bullied:- Reluctant to go to school or certain places.
- Silent about what is happening at school.
- Frequent lost or damaged possessions.
- Academic problems.
- Difficulty concentrating.
- Low self-esteem.
- Social isolation.
- Quiet, depressed, irritable, or anxious.
- Gets into physical or verbal fights with others.
- Enjoys putting others down.
- Has extra money or new belongings that cannot be explained.
- Disrespects authority and disregards rules.
- Has an attitude of superiority.
- Quick to blame others.
- Needs to have power or control over others.
- Enjoys violence.
Bullying is wrong and it is not your fault. Everyone deserves to feel safe at school. Follow these steps if you are in a bullying situation:
- Speak up against bullying. Be firm and clear when you speak. Say something like “stop it”.
- Walk away. Act like you do not care, even if you really do.
- Tell an adult you trust. Report it to your parent, teacher, counselor, or School Resource Officer.
- Stick together. The buddy system works. Staying with a group or friend will allow someone else to help you speak up or run to get help.
Bullying can be scary. Know that you are not alone. Follow these steps to help you avoid being in a bullying situation:
- Do not give bullies a chance. Take a different route to class or home from school.
- Avoid unsupervised areas of the school.
- Sit at the front of the bus.
- Find a buddy and stick together.
- Stand tall and be brave.
- Speak to a trusted adult about this regularly
Research suggests: [Source]
- Youth who are bullied over time are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem than those who are not bullied
- Youth who are bullied are more likely to want to avoid going to school and stay isolated from others
- Youth who bully others experience a higher risk of developing anti-social behaviors such as: aggression, substance use, behavioral problems in school or outside of school, & physical or verbal fights
- Youth who witness bullying can also experience symptoms of anxiety and/or depression
Bullying can be scary. Know that you are not alone. Follow these steps to help you avoid being in a bullying situation:
- Do not give bullies a chance. Take a different route to class or home from school.
- Avoid unsupervised areas of the school.
- Sit at the front of the bus.
- Find a buddy and stick together.
- Stand tall and be brave.
- Speak to a trusted adult about this regularly
If you witness a bullying incident, follow the steps below to appropriate intervene and address the incident:
- Intervene immediately.
- Identify that the incident was bullying.*
- Request more information separately with the students involved.
- Tell the students you are aware of their behavior.
- Make it a teachable experience.
- Document the incident.
- Maintain records
- Inform the parents and appropriate staff for further investigation.
A quick chart of who to contact regarding bullying behaviour at school
| Is someone at immediate risk of harm? | Contact law enforcement. (911 or School Resource Officer) |
| Is your child feeling suicidal? | Contact the suicide prevention lifeline. 800-273-TALK(8255)(wwww.suicidepreventionlifeline.org) |
| Is your childs teacher not keeping your child safe? | Contact your school principal |
| Is your school principal not keeping your child safe? | Contact your local school administrator |
| Is your school administrator not keeping your child safe? | Contact your local school board |
| Is your child still unsafe without school help? | Contact the State Department of Education |
| Is your child sick, stressed, or having other problems because of bullying? | Contact your school counselor or a mental health professional |
| Is your child bullied because of their race, ethnicity or disability without local help? | Contact the US Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights. (www2.ed.gov/ocr) |
| Is your child experiencing mental or emotional distress? | Contact the Crisis Text Line by texting "HOME" to 741741 |
- Talk to kids regularly about bullying is. Educate them on how to safely stand up to bullying and how to get help.
- Create a safe space for kids to feel comfortable in talking to you about bullying. Approach them in a non-judgmental way to allow for open communication.
- Be encouraging and empowering by supporting them in doing what they love to do. Extracurricular activities such as boxing can help boost confidence and be a healthy outlet to cope with emotions.
- Be a role model and demonstrate how to treat others with respect and kindness.
- Boxing teaches mental toughness, which can be helpful in facing fears, standing up for oneself, standing up to adversity, and going after goals and dreams
- Boxing teaches the importance fundamentals, which can teach one about the importance of core skills in different environments and how to execute and improve no matter the setting
- Boxing teaches resilience, persistence, and hard work, which can help someone navigate through the ebs and flows that life may throw at you
- Boxing teaches the importance of preparation and strategy, which can help someone show up as their full selves with confidence in different situations
- Boxing can be a healthy outlet to relieve stress & tension
- Boxing can help release endorphins (brain chemicals) to improve one’s mood, physical and mental energy, and enhances wellbeing
- Boxing can help relieve symptoms of trauma by calming the fight or flight response in your body
- Boxing can help build confidence and a sense of empowerment
- Boxing can help manage anger and aggression and is a healthy way to cope with negative thinking patterns
- Boxing can be a way to improve one’s concentration and focus