About one in five high school students reported being bullied on school property in the past year, according to the CDC, and one in six high school students reported being bullied electronically in the past year including through texting and social media. It has become widespread and the CDC has also found a link between long term bullying and a higher risk for suicide.

There are three types of bullying, said Christi Blankman, Davis School District K-12 Prevention Coordinator in the Department of Student and Family Services. “There’s physical – kicking, hitting, etc. Verbal – teasing, taunting, name calling and Social – embarrassing someone in public or on social media or spreading rumors. Anything that is unwanted repeated behavior.”

There is information about bullying on the district website, Blankman said. “We cover that at parent night and with the kids at the beginning of school. We also offer parent classes once a month.”

Blankman said parents need to have an honest conversation with their kids to see what is going on. “Watch for obvious changes in your child such as difficulty sleeping, nightmares, grades dropping, no friends or different friends, not wanting to go to school, running away and even thoughts of suicide.”

Have an open discussion so that they feel safe talking about it, she said. “Kids might not know what to do or who they can talk to. Tell them to walk away and don’t fight back. Go tell an adult. Stay closer to an adult. Most bullying happens when an adult is not around.”

A lot of stuff goes on online, said Blankman. “Parents need to know what their kids are doing and put some protections on that. Parents should watch their social media accounts too.”

Teach kids about being respectful, she said. “Parents should teach their kids that if they see kids engaging in laughing at someone or bullying, that being a bystander is almost as bad. Teach them that if they see something, say something.”

They can also use SafeUT and report it anonymously, Blankman said. “Sometimes that feels safer.”

There are counselors, family advocates, administrators and other resources at the school that can help, she said. “There are also a lot of resources online for parents.”

The district trains staff on what to watch for, said Blankman. “It helps make them more aware of changes in student behavior. They should see it because the kids are sitting in their classroom all day long.”

Blankman said she believes kids need more skills and tools to use. “I feel like it’s important to arm kids with information to know what to do if they’re being bullied. Give them the ability to know how to respond and not react and the tools to respond appropriately and tell someone.”

They may not even know it is bullying, she said. “Or they think it is something they did so they personalize it.”

For more resources on bullying visit www.cdc.gov/youth-violence/about/about-bullying.html.λ