October is National Bullying Prevention Month

Every October is National Bullying Prevention Month, a time to raise awareness, educate, and inspire action to build a world without bullying. But our work doesn't end in October; fostering a safe, inclusive environment is a year-round commitment. Let's continue to work together to prevent bullying, promote kindness, and strengthen our communities every day.

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Please use our digital tools below to raise awareness of ways to prevent bullying in your schools and communities.

Use our hashtags

#BullyingPreventionMonth
#BullyingPreventionMonthPA
#SafeSchools

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Social Art

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Sample Social Post Content

#Parents: You may not see bullying happen, but you may be the first to become aware of it. If you think your child is being bullied, explain to them that bullying is wrong and it is not their fault. More tips at https://bit.ly/CSS-BP #BullyingPreventionMonth
#Parents: Help support #BullyingPrevention. Educate yourself about what bullying is and is not. Learn your school's policy on bullying. Support the school's messages against bullying. Talk to your child about the school's policies. https://bit.ly/CSS-BP #SafeSchools
Bullying is when someone repeatedly and on purpose says or does mean or hurtful things to another person who has a hard time defending themself. Learn more at https://bit.ly/CSS-BP #BullyingPreventionMonth
Bullying is an adverse childhood experience that is widespread in the United States. Bullying harms all youth involved, including those who are bullied, those who bully others, and bystanders who witness it. https://bit.ly/CSS-BP #BullyingPreventionMonth
Studies indicated that young victims of bullying have higher rates of agoraphobia, depression, anxiety, panic disorder and suicidality in their early to mid‐20s, compared to those who have not been bullied in childhood https://bit.ly/CSS-BP #BullyingPreventionMonth
Racial and ethnic minority youth and immigrants are more likely than majority and native-born youth to experience bias-based bullying. https://bit.ly/CSS-BP #BullyingPreventionMonth
ALWAYS report bullying to a trusted adult at school and at home. Also, schools in Pennsylvania have Safe2Say 1-844SAF2SAY or 1-844-723-2729. #BullyingPreventionMonthPA https://www.safe2saypa.org/
More than 1 in every 5 students report being bullied. Take action at school, at home, in your neighborhood, at a local business, or in your workplace to show you care about kids being safe at school, online, and in the community. https://bit.ly/CSS-BP #bullyingpreventionmonth #SafeSchools
Schools that use evidence-based bullying prevention programs and speak a common language about respect and safety build stronger connections for students. When young people feel connected at school, they're less likely to experience poor mental health, suicidal thoughts, substance use, violence, and other risky behaviors. Together, we can create a culture where everyone feels safe, supported, and included. #SafeSchools
Bullying affects a student's ability to learn. Students who are bullied often do not want to go to school, find it difficult to concentrate, show a decline in grades, and lose self-esteem. Learn how you can help prevent bullying. #bullyingpreventionmonth #SafeSchools https://bit.ly/CSS-BP
Kids who witness bullying are more likely to have increased use of tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs; have increased mental health problems; and miss school. Talk to your kids about what they can do if they witness bullying. #bullyingpreventionmonth https://bit.ly/CSS-BP
Schools can empower students and help protect their physical and mental health. They can do this by ensuring that school environments are healthy, safe, and supportive, particularly for the most vulnerable young people. #SafeSchools

Featured Resources

Review Center for Safe Schools' Bullying Prevention Resources website section for information, tools and visit the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program website.

stopbullying.gov is an official U.S. federal government website managed by the Department of Health and Human Services. It provides comprehensive, evidence-based information and resources to help individuals, families, educators, and communities understand, prevent, and address bullying and cyberbullying.

PACER National Bullying Prevention Month Toolkit is a free, downloadable four-week activity kit designed for K-12 classrooms and youth settings during October, offering themed weeks, hands-on classroom projects, and engagement tools to promote kindness, acceptance, and inclusion in the effort to prevent bullying.

Key Facts and Statistics

Statistics from the 2018 Indicators of School Crime and Safety – PDF show that only 20% of school bullying incidents were reported. (Source: stopbullying.gov)

The 2019 School Crime Supplement to the National Crime Victimization Survey (National Center for Education Statistics and Bureau of Justice) indicates that, nationwide, about 22% of students ages 12–18 experienced bullying. (Source: stopbullying.gov)

The 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) indicates that, nationwide, 15.0% of students in grades 9–12 report being bullied on school property in the 12 months preceding the survey. (Source: stopbullying.gov)

The The Youth Risk Behavior Survey Data Summary & Trends Report provides data on health behaviors and experiences of high school students in the United States. Data highlight students' behaviors and experiences in 2023, changes from 2021 to 2023, and 10-year trends. (Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)