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Last updated June 2022
About

Bullying is repeated aggressive behavior that can present in the form of threats, physical assault, and intimidation that is intentional and involves a difference in power and/or strength.

Bullying is a common experience for many children and adolescents.

Bullying behavior can be physical, verbal, or electronic. Boys tend to use physical intimidation or threats, regardless of the gender of their victims. Bullying by girls is more often verbal, usually with another girl as the target. Bullying has even been reported in online chat rooms, through e-mail and on social networking sites.

Children who are bullied experience real suffering that can interfere with their social and emotional development, as well as their school performance. Some victims of bullying have even attempted suicide rather than continue to endure such harassment and punishment.
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is bullying?

Bullying involves the repeated exposure of one person to physical and/or relational aggression where the victim is hurt with teasing, name calling, mockery, threats, harassment, taunting, social exclusion or rumors.

Bullying can take many forms and occurs across the lifespan. It can occur in multiple settings including schools, "after school" programs, in the neighborhood, over the internet and cellular phones, at home between siblings, dating relationships, at summer camps and in organized athletic activities. Cyberbullying has added a new dimension to bullying because of the 24 hour access by way of social networks and texting.

Bullying is a common problem. In a large scale study of schools, reports of bullying range from 1 in 4 students report feeling excluded by peers and 1 in 10 students report being a victim of physical bullying.

All involved in bullying, including victims, bullies and bystanders, are at increased risk for mental health problems.

Why is bullying such an important problem?

Bullying has far reaching effects on the victim, the bully, and the bystander.

Victims of bullying are at increased risk for depression, anxiety, health complaints, eating disorders, school absenteeism, running away, alcohol and drug abuse and self-injury, accidental injuries, poor school performance, and suicidal behaviors. They are also at risk for becoming a bully.

Bystanders are likely to feel guilt regarding inaction and may fear that their environment is unsafe. They may feel powerless or may be drawn to participate in bullying. Bystanders are at increased risk for developing depression and anxiety problems, abuse drugs and alcohol, and miss school.

Bullies are at increased risk for getting into fights and committing crimes. They are more likely to abuse alcohol and drugs as a youth and to drop out from school. As an adult, those who have bullied are at increased risk to have criminal convictions and being abusive toward their romantic partners and children.

Who gets bullied?

Any child regardless of age or gender has the potential to be bullied. However, certain populations are more vulnerable due to disability, sexual orientation, physical appearance, and numerous other factors including race, gender, income and religion.

What are some warning signs that a child is being bullied?

Be observant for:

Missing personal items

Physical complaints hoping to stay home from school

Changes in eating and sleeping habits

A drop in grades

Unhappiness regarding school or trouble over behavior

Defensive over behavior and attitude

What can I do if my child is being bullied?

Children and teens may not tell adults that they are being bullied because they are embarrassed or frightened. If you suspect your child has been bullied, here are some steps you can take:

Allow your child to discuss what's going on with you or a trusted adult. Listening to his or her concerns is an easy way to provide emotional support.

Seek help from your child's teacher or the school guidance counselor. Most bullying occurs on playgrounds, in lunchrooms, and bathrooms, on school buses or in unsupervised halls. Ask the school administrators to find out about programs other schools and communities have used to help combat bullying, such as peer mediation, conflict resolution, and anger management training, and increased adult supervision.

Don't encourage your child to fight back. Instead, suggest that he or she try walking away to avoid the bully, or that they seek help from a teacher, coach, or other adult.

Help your child practice what to say to the bully so he or she will be prepared the next time.

Help your child practice being assertive. The simple act of insisting that the bully leave him alone may have a surprising effect. Explain to your child that the bully's true goal is to get a response.

Encourage your child to be with friends when traveling back and forth from school, during shopping trips, or on other outings. Bullies are less likely to pick on a child in a group.

Do not encourage your child to "work things out" on their own with a young bully, and avoid contacting the parents of students who have bullied your child. Instead, work with your child's school to ensure protection from bullying through adult supervision, consequences for young people who bully, and the school's clear message that bullying will be taken seriously.

Explore bullying websites with your child online. Your child may be comforted by knowing that they are not alone and find additional ways to cope.

What can I do if my child bullies others?

It is difficult for most parents to learn that their child may be bullying others. However, parents must recognize that children who bully are at risk for more serious behavior problems. Therefore, it is important for them to take immediate action. Here are some suggested approaches:

Talk with your child. Offer a calm explanation of what your child is accused of, and ask for their account of the incident.

Hold the young person fully accountable for their actions. Calmly but firmly tell your child that bullying will not be tolerated, and that their behaviors will be taken seriously.

Develop clear rules and expectations for your child's behavior. Provide fair but consistent consequences if your child breaks the rules, and recognize and affirm appropriate behavior.

Spend more time with your child. Carefully monitor their activities, including where and with whom they spend their time. Supervise their use of social networking sites and texting.

Work with your child's school to ensure that your child is held accountable for his or her bullying behavior. Ask the school to keep you informed about any further incidents.

Build on your child's strengths and positive attributes. Encourage them to become involved in social activities with positive role models.

How can I best work with my child's school to address bullying?

Support your school in evolving their policy regarding bullying. Legislation varies among States, but most States now require a specific anti-bullying policy, and many required (as of 2011) that this include responding to bullying events outside of school (such as cyber-bullying) that affect student interactions during the school day

Adopt a position of "partnering" with your school. Accusing a school of not being responsive, or of allowing bullying, perpetuates conflicts (sometimes perceived by schools as "reverse bullying" by parents of bullied students). Instead, discuss with your school staff what would benefit your child and other students impacted by a bullying event.

What does NOT work:

Putting bullies and victims in the same room to work out their differences in front of school staff is ineffective.

It is absolutely necessary that schools clearly state that bullying won't be tolerated. However "no tolerance" policies ignore the fact that some teasing and unkind behavior to others is part of typical development. No tolerance policies may result in schools over reacting to certain events.

Telling students to report events of bullying to school staff works poorly in middle/high school students.

When teachers and administrators are the bullies. If administrators/teachers intimidate students, or tolerate hazing rituals, it's very difficult to develop an anti-bullying school climate.

Facts for Families

AACAP's Facts for Families provide concise up-to-date information on issues that affect children, teenagers, and their families.

Video Clips

Clinical Resources

AACAP Policies:

Research and Training

Books

Getting Help

Bullying is a complex problem that can involve not only your child, but also the staff and faculty of your child's school. Child & Adolescent Psychiatrists are trained to look out for signs that your child is the victim of bullying. If you are a concerned parent, they can help you take the proper plan of action to make sure your child gets all the support he or she needs to stay resilient and confident. Click here to find out about AACAP's various advocacy efforts.

Click here to find out what is going on in your state around anti-bullying legislation.

Related Websites

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Bullying is a common experience for many children and adolescents. Surveys indicate that as many as half of all children are bullied at some time during their school years, and at least 10% are bullied on a regular basis.

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AACAP provides evidence-based information, educational materials such as pamphlets, FAQs, videos, and guidance to help students, families, and school staff recognize, prevent, and respond to bullying. Their materials focus on the emotional and psychological effects of bullying and offer trauma-informed strategies for support.

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How does AACAP help with bullying trauma?

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How does AACAP help with bullying trauma?

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AACAP is an online resource managed by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), USA-based, but can be accessed internationally.

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For Youth:

BAM! Guide to Getting Along
Tips for kids on staying cool and stopping a conflict before it starts.

How to Stop Bullying at School
You can be someone who stops bullying before it even starts.

Video: Be Someone's Hero
About one in five teens reports being bullied, which is harmful but preventable. Anyone can stand up and speak out and be someone's hero by safely intervening to stop bullying.
-Spanish subtitles

FBI Safe Online Surfing Internet Challenge
FBI-SOS is a free, fun, and informative program that promotes cyber citizenship by educating students in third to eighth grades on the essentials of online security.

For Parents and Guardians:

Protecting Kids Online
Resources to help adults talk to kids about making safe and responsible decisions.

Technology and Youth (PDF)
Tips to maximize the benefits of technology and decrease its risks.

How to Talk to Your Kids About Mental Health
You want the best for your children or other dependents. You may be concerned or have questions about certain behaviors they exhibit and how to ensure they get help.

KnowBullying App
SAMHSA's free KnowBullying app will help you boost your children's confidence, resilience, and build effective strategies for facing bullying.

For Teachers, Coaches, and School Staff:

School Climate Improvement Resource Package
A variety of resources for stakeholders interested in improving school climate and helping students feel safe, supported, challenged, and accepted.

The Relationship Between Bullying and Suicide: What We Know and What It Means for Schools (PDF)
Concrete, action-oriented information based on the latest science to help you improve your schools' understanding of and ability to prevent and respond to the problem of bullying and suicide-related behavior.

School-Based Bullying Prevention
A guide to implementing a program in your school that can prevent or intervene in bullying.

Addressing Anti-Semitism through Education Teaching Aids
Ten specialized teaching aids to address anti-Semitism by instilling the values of mutual respect and equality and promoting human rights, tolerance and critical thinking.

For the General Public:

Preventing Bullying
Fast facts on bullying, including statistics and prevention techniques.
-Español (Spanish)

Preventing Bullying - Factsheet (PDF)
While the magnitude and types of bullying can vary across communities and demographic groups, bullying negatively impacts all youth involved-those who are bullied, those who bully others, and bystanders.
-Español (Spanish)

A Comprehensive Technical Package for the Prevention of Youth Violence and Associated Risk Behaviors
Strategies based on the best available evidence to help communities and states sharpen their focus on prevention activities with the greatest potential to prevent youth violence and its consequences.
-Español (Spanish)

Bullying Prevention and Resources to Aid Community-wide Efforts
Research-based resources give community leaders concrete tools to address, and ultimately, take steps to prevent bullying.

Assessing Prevention Capacity & Implementing Change (PDF)
Guidance to state health departments and others in determining bullying prevention strategies and enhancing partnerships to support bullying prevention efforts in schools, health care settings, communities, and with families and caregivers.

Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force Program
A national network of 61 coordinated task forces representing over 4,500 federal, state, and local law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies, who are continually engaged in proactive and reactive investigations and prosecutions of persons involved in child abuse and exploitation involving the Internet.

VetoViolence
Tools, trainings, and resources designed to empower you and your partners to help reduce risks for violence and to increase what protects people and communities from it.

Measuring Bullying Victimization, Perpetration, and Bystander Experiences: A Compendium of Assessment Tools (PDF)
Tools for researchers, prevention specialists, and health educators to measure a range of bullying experiences: bully perpetration, bully victimization, bully-victim experiences, and bystander experiences.

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StopBullying.gov equips schools and families with trusted resources to address and prevent bullying through trauma-informed practices.

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How can they help with bullying trauma?

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StopBullying.gov offers a comprehensive library of trauma-informed bullying prevention and intervention resources, such as training modules and parent communication guides. It supports students, educators, and families by offering tools for recognizing bullying, responding appropriately, and accessing mental health and crisis services when bullying leads to trauma.

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PACER Kids Against Bullying is a kid-friendly website that PACER’s National Bullying Prevention Center developed. It helps elementary-aged children recognize, prevent, and respond to bullying through engaging games, videos, and activities promoting kindness and peer support, making learning practical and fun.

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How can PACER support students?

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Offers age-appropriate lessons, games, and interactive polls that teach elementary-aged kids how to recognize bullying, speak up, and support peers. Pacers empower children to build resilience and peer advocacy, reducing feelings of isolation and enhancing emotional safety.

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Resources for prevention, intervention, and postvention of bullying among students.

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The Humboldt County Office of Education (HCOE) supports local schools in Northern California by providing educational leadership, resources, and services, serving 32 school districts. It offers programs focused on student wellness, including bullying prevention, mental health, and trauma-informed practices to create safe and supportive learning environments.

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How does HCOE support students with bullying trauma?

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Implements MTSS-based bullying prevention, including Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS), restorative practices, and social-emotional learning coping skills to address bullying and support trauma response.

Offers tools for the entire MTSS continuum:

Tier I: Universal prevention concepts (e.g., "Power of Allies," Bullying Prevention 101)

Tier II: Restorative practices and strategies to recognize signs of distress

Postvention: Guidance and community strategies following incidents

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County Behavioral Health Triage Services | Humboldt County, CA - Official Website

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Mental Health Services Oversight and Accountability Commission SB 82 Triage personnel grants are making it possible for Mental Health to expand its services to people across the county. Services include Mobile Response Teams that provide mental health services to children and adults in the field. Mental health services are also available to children in public schools countywide.

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Humboldt County Department of Health & Human Services mobile units serve children and families throughout Humboldt County, CA.

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How It Helps with Trauma

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The C-MRT provides immediate crisis intervention for children experiencing trauma, whether from bullying, family conflict, or mental health crises. They offer phone triage, in-person crisis response, stabilization, and connection to longer-term support, helping students and families during acute traumatic events.