October is really a special month for me.  The weather begins its slow change from incredibly hot and humid to less incredibly hot and humid, high school and college sports are in full swing, and Halloween marks the start of the holiday season in my house.  We all also know it is Breast Cancer Awareness month and pink can be found from the classroom to the basketball court to bagels and pastries.  What you may not be as familiar with is that October is National Bullying Prevention Month.  This campaign is designed to unite communities around the world to educate and raise awareness about bullying prevention.  The Crisis Center of Tampa Bay provides bullying education through our Corbett Trauma Center's Care Coordination and our Gateway Services 2-1-1, so I thought it was a great opportunity to dedicate this month's newsletter to bullying prevention awareness. 

 

Did you know 1 out of every 5 students report being bullied?  That sobering statistic is from the PACER Center ( www.pacer.org), which was created in 2006 to bring awareness to the harmful effects of bullying.  Historically, bullying had been viewed as "a childhood rite of passage" that "made kids tougher."  The reality has always been that bullying can leave devastating and often long-term effects, such as a loss of self-esteem, increased anxiety, depression and thoughts of suicide for those involved.  Bullying has evolved with technology and cyberbullying has exploded as a primary method of bullying.  In a 2015 study, students across the country report that "about one out of every four teens has experienced cyberbullying, and about one out of every six teens has done it to others ( https://cyberbullying.org/facts).  With statistics like these, you can certainly understand why Bullying Prevention Month is so important. 

 

So, what can you do to help, you ask?  Well, one of the MOST important ways you can help prevent bullying is by letting your family, friends, co-workers and neighbors know about Bullying Prevention Month.  Starting the conversation is the first step.  Second, teach or remind your circle of influence that if they are struggling with bullying to call 2-1-1.  Our Gateway Services can provide resources and emotional support, as well as access to the Corbett Trauma Center's Trauma Counseling.  Finally, create a "culture of kindness" by remembering the old saying "if you can't say something nice, say nothing at all."  Changing our words and actions from negative and condescending to encouraging and hopeful creates an inclusive and safe environment.  By identifying the problem, providing the resources to help, and creating a bully-free culture, we can "stomp out" bullying in our community! 

 

Wishing you love and kindness, 

 

Clara