Bullying is a persistent pattern of unwelcome aggressive behavior that often involves an imbalance of power and/or the intention to harm or humiliate someone (source: Safe@School). Characteristics of a bullying situation include:
- An imbalance of power
- The intent to harm;
- Worsens with repetition over time;
- The distress of the child or teen being bullied, often including fear or terror;
- Enjoyment of the effects on the child or teen being bullied by the person (people) doing the bullying;
- The threat--implicit or explicit--of further aggression
If you are experiencing bullying, tell someone you trust! You are not alone and you have the right to ask for help. You can also use this form to anonymously or secretly report bullying. Please let us know so we can help.