Unity Day 2016 – Together Against Bullying

This year marks the 10th anniversary for National Bullying Prevention Month in October. Bullying has been an increasing epidemic that can cause depression, suicide, and other negative effects on those affected, particularly children and teens.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, bullying is defined as aggression that is physical (hitting, tripping), verbal (name calling, teasing), or relational/social (spreading rumors, leaving out of group). Also in recent years, cyberbullying (online) also falls under the category of bullying.

The Child Life team at Holtz Children’s Hospital participated in the #UnityDay2016 campaign by wearing orange on October 19 – a day individuals worldwide showcased awareness against bullying in exchange for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion.

“We felt that we needed to participate in the #UnityDay2016 Anti-Bullying campaign because many of our long term patients don’t look like a “normal” child of the same age,” said Kimberly Morales, MHA, CCLS, Child Life manager at Holtz Children’s. “Part of our role is transitioning them back into mainstream schooling after a long hospitalization.”

Statistics show that one in four children have faced bullying and about 43 percent have dealt with cyberbullying, according to the National Center for Educational Statistics. It’s crucial for family members to have open conversations with their children.

Family members and caregivers should look for signs of possible violence in a child’s life, as they may be exposed to violence at school, in extracurricular activities, and even in their neighborhoods. The act of bullying can result in injury, emotional distress, and, in some cases, suicide.

“We want to prepare them for the possibility of bullying,” Morales said. “But ultimately we hope that by participating today we can end bullying all together.”