What are the results of bullying? Victims of bullying are more likely to be anxious, depressed and have physical health problems. People who bully are more likely to have problems with grades and behavior. When bullies grow up, they are more likely to get into trouble with the law. Even people who witness a bullying act might feel stress and fear.
Things to do: If you are bullied, don’t doubt yourself. The person bullying is the problem, not you. Be calm in a bullying situation. Bullies like to make people upset and get satisfaction from that. Try to tell your friends. Keeping it bottled up can cause even more stress. Finally, you should tell an adult. Tell a teacher, a school counselor and most importantly, tell your parents.
If you witness someone else being bullied, you can help that person. Tell a teacher or another adult. It can be hard to the person being bullied to do this, so by telling someone, you are actually helping that person.
If you are a bully, realize this is not healthy and can affect you later in life. 60% of bullies have at least one criminal conviction by the age of 24. Try to figure out why you are a bully. Talk to an adult, teacher, school counselor and most importantly, a parent.
More information about bullying can be found at www.stopbullying.gov.
Officer Larry Jacobs is the Crime Prevention Officer for the Sandy Springs Police Department. He can be reached directly at email@example.com.