Duke University professors recently published research that shows the degree to which bullying can affect someone’s mental health.

Authors Copeland, Wolke, Angold, and Costello discovered that victims of childhood bullying have a higher risk of developing mental health problems later in life. The study followed more than 1,000 youth, starting at the ages of 9, 11, and 13. The youth were interviewed each year until they turned 16. Follow-up interviews were then conducted into adulthood.

Results of the study showed bullying elevated the rate of mental health problems.  Some of the key findings were:

Youth who were victims of bullying had a higher chance of having agoraphobia, anxiety and panic disorders. Youth who bullied were at risk for antisocial... Continue Reading

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is proud of its long history of working with the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) and other student groups to promote healthy kids and safe schools. These partnerships are a great chance for HRSA to reach youth in their schools and community to prevent bullying. Over the years, HRSA and GLSEN have shared resources and spoken at events. This year, we are continuing that work on social media for GLSEN’s No Name Calling Week. Continue Reading

Bullying takes many forms. It happens in many contexts. Because bullying is complex, there is no one-size-fits-all solution for it.

“Student Problem Identification and Resolution of Issues Together” (SPIRIT ) is a service program that CRS delivers to schools across the nation. The program helps schools prevent bullying by focusing on the social tension and conflict that can lead to it, including:

Creating a space for teachers, students, and parents to build understanding and trust through discussion Assessing a school’s social climate to see what the general thoughts are on bullying

The Community Relations Services (CRS), part of the Department of Justice, serves as “America’s Peacemaker.” They are working with communities to build understanding and trust through conversation.

CRS has offices across the country. These offices employ “... Continue Reading

Participants at the Grand Forks Defending Childhood Site learn more about bullying intervention strategies.

In 2010, Attorney General Eric Holder launched the Defending Childhood initiative to address children’s exposure—as victims and as witnesses—to violence. He hopes to change our perceptions of violence and abuse, make the topic an issue on the national level, and address how abuse and violence affect children. He understands that violence can follow and wound children throughout their lives. We need to address abuse and Continue Reading

Over the past three years, at our annual Federal Partners in Bullying Prevention Summits, we have heard the same call by educators-– teachers want to help stop bullying, but they don’t know how. Most try to help, but few receive training on how to do so. There are bullying prevention trainings available for teachers, but many are very expensive or not based on the best available research.

That is why the Department of Education and its Safe and Supportive Technical Assistance Center, set out to create a free, state-of-the-art training for classroom teachers on bullying. The two-part training aims to help teachers know the best practices to stop bullying on the spot and how to stop it before... Continue Reading

The Federal Partners in Bullying Prevention are looking for informative and entertaining videos that send a positive message to youth about the importance of being “more than a bystander” to bullying in their schools and communities.

In August, U.S. Department of Education Secretary Arne Duncan, called on America’s youth to take the Stop Bullying Video Challenge. This contest gives young people another way to create a more positive and healthy environment in their schools and communities. Students are asked to submit videos answering the question: “How have you been more than a bystander?”

Encourage the youth in your life to submit original PSAs, 30 to 60 seconds in length, that show ways... Continue Reading

Today’s kids use technology more than ever. While technology can be a great tool to communicate, learn, and socialize, it can also be used in harmful ways, and allow some kids to take bullying from school hallways into cyberspace. Cyberbullying happens when kids bully each other through electronic technology, including sending mean text messages, posting embarrassing photos on social networking sites, or creating fake profiles of another individual. Parents can help reduce these risks by talking to kids about Continue Reading

Student leaders from Quantico high school, 4H, Baltimore Intersection and DC Mayors Youth Advisory Council played a big role at the Bullying Prevention Summit. A subset of these students spoke with Secretary Arne Duncan and Assistant Secretary Deb Delisle about their student led bullying prevention efforts.

When I helped close the third annual Federal Partners in Bullying Prevention Summit on Tuesday, my colleagues and I gave attendees a simple charge: what are you going to do to further bullying prevention in the next year?

  Continue Reading

Yesterday, Cynthia Germanotta and I had the opportunity to discuss how to empower young people and end bullying at the Third Annual Bullying Prevention Summit in Washington, D.C. Cynthia and her daughter, Lady Gaga, recently founded the Born This Way Foundationto empower young people with the skills and opportunities they need to build a kinder, braver world.

As moms, both Cynthia and I realize the impact that bullying—and kindness—can have on young people. We both agreed that we must all stay focused on ending bullying because no young person, or their loved ones, should have to endure the pain, agony, and loss to our families, schools, and communities that can come with bullying.

We also agreed that we need to reinforce... Continue Reading

Next week, leaders of non-profit and corporate organizations engaged in anti-bullying work will join researchers, parents and students to participate in the third Federal Partners in Bullying Prevention Summit on August 6th and 7th in Washington, D.C.

The Summit is hosted by the Department of Education and will bring these groups and individuals together to discuss the successes and challenges of addressing bullying, and what needs to be done in the year to come. We’ve come a long way in the past year, but there is much to learn from the people who address bullying in the work they do day to day. It’s important for us to hear the voices of those impacted by bullying from around the country and to share the knowledge we’ve gained to stop bullying. So for the first time this year, we will be livestreaming the entire Summit and engaging the at-home audience through Twitter... Continue Reading