Bullying is a form of violence; at least 19 states have passed anti-bullying legislation, as of 2011. Constant bullying and stress at home are major factors in the occurrence of teen and pre-teen suicides, according to Tolerance.org. Bullying can be physical, verbal or emotional; it can occur face-to-face or online in the form of cyberbullying.
Direct bullying is obvious and can take the form of hitting, tripping, shoving, pinching, verbal threats, name calling, racial slurs, insults, demanding money or services, stabbing, choking and burning, according to the California Department of Education website. Less obvious forms of bullying include rejecting, excluding or isolating targets, humiliation and manipulation, hurtful emails, or a website designed to attack the victim with degrading and humiliating posts.
Individuals who witness or become aware of bullying through third parties should immediately report the incident to local authorities. The California Department of Education website recommends that schools and neighborhoods implement anti-bullying policies. This policy should include a survey to identify bullies. Schools must increase the level of supervision of students to identify and apprehend bullies. The local community can motivate bystanders who witness bullying to report it by administering training programs that raise awareness about the consequences of repeated bullying, such as delinquency, crime and death.
Anti-bullying policies should include a support system to protect victims of bullying and those who report it. Schools must partner with law enforcement and mental health professionals to suspend or expel students who have been found guilty of bullying in accordance to anti-bullying laws, as defined in the California Education Code Section 48900(r).