October is National Bullying Prevention Month, during which the Day of Unity (Oct. 18, 2023) serves as its centerpiece. On this day and throughout this month, the central message is to unite in support of courage, inclusion, and compassion in order to protect individuals, especially the youth, from bullying.

Some alarming national statistics include: 

• 22% of students get bullied during each school year
• 43%-48% of students reported that they would not intervene in bullying 
• 46% of teens report being cyberbullied at least once
• At 79%, verbal harassment is the most common type of bullying

Some signs that may point to a bullying problem are: 

• Unexplainable injuries
• Lost or destroyed clothing, books, electronics, or jewelry
• Frequent headaches or stomach aches, feeling sick or faking illness.
• Changes in eating habits, like suddenly skipping meals or binge eating. Kids may come home from school hungry because they did not eat lunch.
• Difficulty sleeping or frequent nightmares
• Declining grades, loss of interest in schoolwork, or not wanting to go to school
• Sudden loss of friends or avoidance of social situations
• Feelings of helplessness or decreased self esteem
• Self-destructive behaviors such as running away from home or talking about suicide

For more information and anti-bullying resources, visit: StopBullying.gov.