Bullying - It's a big deal

All too often, someone will say that bullying is no big deal or just a stage of growing up. Both are false myths that can take a toll on the victim of bullying.

Bullying can lead to increased absences from school that can have dangerous academic repercussions in today’s increasingly demanding education environment.

Additionally, the US Health and Human Services Administration reports that victims of bullying are more likely than their peers to:

• Drop out of school

• Drink alcohol

• Begin smoking

• Be involved in fighting

For those that bully, the result can be equally disturbing. Sixty percent of boys who were bullies in middle school had at least one criminal conviction by the age of 24, the administration reported.