October is National Bullying Prevention Month in the U.S., and it serves as a grim reminder that bullying can have a devastating effect not only on the individuals victimized by it but also on the bullies themselves. It also has a negative impact on the community and the school; so, really, there are no winners when it comes to bullying.

And it’s for these reasons that everyone may want to take a moment to observe this month. Not only does this month encourage people to learn more about bullying and its effects, but it also encourages people to get involved to stop it. That’s something we all should try to do.

The History of National Bullying Prevention Month

This month was first created by PACER in 2006. PACER is an organization that helps parents and professionals who work with students with disabilities. They created this month to raise awareness about bullying and to help people come together to combat it.

Some Important Facts About Bullying

We wanted to give all of our readers a head start as they begin their journey toward educating themselves more on the subject. We did a bit of research and listed them below for everyone to ponder while they’re observing National Bullying Prevention Month.

• Approximately 20% of children in the U.S. report having been bullied over the course of the previous year.
• Over 160,000 teens drop out due to bullying each year.
• In schools with low levels of bullying, the dropout rates drop to below 28%.
• Approximately 79% of bullying cases are verbal harassment.
• Social harassment makes up 50% of all bullying cases, and physical bullying accounts for 29% of all bullying cases.
• Approximately 25% of bullying cases involve cyberbullying.
• It’s been estimated that 6th-grade students experience the majority of bullying over any other grade.
• It’s estimated that 7 out of 10 school staff members have witnessed bullying.
• Only 39% of high school students have notified an adult of bullying.
• Approximately 42% of students say they were bullied because of physical appearance, race, ethnicity, gender, religion, or sexual orientation.

Observing National Bullying Prevention Month

This is a month that should be observed by students, parents, teachers, and school administrators. That’s because it’s going to take everyone’s effort to end school bullying.

People can educate themselves about bullying, talk to their children about bullying, and monitor their children’s online habits. It’s also a good idea for people to spread the word about this month using the hashtag #NationalBullyingPreventionMonth on social media.