Bullying and Harassment Resources
SBIRT Resources for Parents & Guardians
Check Yourself Data
In the 2023-2024 school year, 19% of students in grades 6-9 reported that they had been bullied or harassed, in person or online, in the last year.
View Seattle Public Schools’ Bullying, Intimidation and Harassment (HIB) policies and reporting procedures, or view the HIB Incident Reporting Form.
Harassment, Intimidation, and Bullying (HIB)The information listed below is taken from the sources that are linked under the information.
Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior among school-aged children that involves a real or perceived power imbalance. The behavior is repeated, or has the potential to be repeated, over time.
Warning signs that a child is being bullied include:
- Unexplainable injuries
- Lost or destroyed clothing, books, electronics, jewelry, or other belongings
- Frequent headaches or stomachaches, or frequently feeling sick
- Changes in eating or sleep habits
- Declining grades, loss of interest in schoolwork, or skipping classes
- Sudden loss of friends or avoidance of social situations
- Feelings of helplessness or decreased self-esteem
- Self-destructive behaviors
Warning signs that a child is bullying others include:
- Frequently getting into physical or verbal fights
- Has friends who are bullying others
- Increased aggression
- Frequently being disciplined at school
- Unexplained acquisition of extra money or belongings
- Blaming others for their problems
- Doesn’t accept responsibility for their actions
- Is competitive and worries about their reputation or popularity
There are four types of bullying:
- Physical: Hitting, kicking, pinching, spitting, tripping, pushing, taking or breaking belongings, mean or rude hand gestures
- Social: Exclusion, telling others to exclude, spreading rumors, purposeful embarrassment
- Verbal: Teasing, name-calling, taunting, threatening to cause harm
- Cyber: Bullying that takes place over digital devices like cell phones, computers, and tablets. Cyberbullying is unique because of the ability of the aggressor to be persistent and inconspicuous, and because of its potential permanence.
Harassment is any bullying that is based on a protected factor, such as race/ethnicity, economic status, religion, disability, gender identity, or orientation. Harassment includes sexual harassment, which is unwanted sexual comments or touch.
For more information about recognizing bullying and/or harassment, explore the links below:
Bullying Fact Sheet – National Institutes of Health
Definition of Bullying – PACER
Definition of Bullying – StopBullying.gov
The information listed below is taken from the sources that are linked under the information.
Bullying can affect social and emotional health in several ways, for the person being bullied, the person bullying others, and even for bystanders:
Self-Esteem: Being bullied can impact confidence and lower self-esteem
Mental Health: Being bullied can cause or worsen mental health issues like depression and anxiety
Physical Health: Being bullied can cause or worsen physical symptoms like stomachaches and illness, and can cause physical injury
Sleep: Being bullied can cause insomnia due to stress and anxiety
School performance: Academic outcomes like attendance and grades can be impacted by bullying for both the target and the bully
Bullying and Suicide Ideation:
Bullying and suicide ideation are closely related. While bullying has not been established as a cause of suicide ideation, we know that risk of suicide ideation increases for youth who are bullied and for youth who bully others. For youth involved in bullying in any way, bullying decreases feelings of connectedness and belonging, which are protective factors against having thoughts of suicide. For more resources for understanding and supporting youth with suicide ideation, view the Suicide Ideation and Self Harm Resources page.
For more information about the effects of bullying, explore the links below:
Bullying Fact Sheet – National Institutes of Health
The information listed below is taken from the sources that are linked under the information.
Parents and guardians can play a key role in supporting children who are being bullied. To support a child being bullied:
1. Listen to and focus on the child. Learn what’s been going on and show you want to help. Ask what has been happening, who has been involved, and what steps have already been taken. Be prepared to listen without judgement and reassure the child that you are a safe and supportive person to whom they can express their feelings.
2. Assure the child that the bullying is not their fault. Let your child know that bullying can happen to anyone, no one deserves to be bullied, and it is the responsibility of adults to make bullying stop.
3. Know that kids who are bullied may struggle to talk about it. Children may not be ready to open up right away as the emotional effects of bullying can include feeling frightened, insecure, vulnerable, angry, or sad. For mental health support, consider a referral to a school counselor, school social worker, or school-based mental health professional.
4. Support and empower your child. Create an action plan to stop the bullying. This may involve role-playing and thinking through how the child might react if the bullying occurs again.
5. Learn your rights. Washington state law RCW 28A.600.477 and Seattle Public Schools’ Policy 3207 ensure students’ right to a safe environment.
6. Work together to resolve the situation and protect the bullied child. The child, parents, and school or organization may all have valuable input. If bullying is occurring at school, report it to your school’s administrator.
For more information about supporting children who are being bullied, explore the links below:
The information listed below is taken from the sources that are linked under the information.
There are many reasons a child may bully others, including peer influence, family or school environments, and emotional factors. If your child is exhibiting signs of bullying others, or is known to be bullying others, you can:
1. Initiate dialogue. Be objective, listen carefully, and encourage your child to share how they feel. Avoid reflexively scolding or punishing your child in ways that may shut down communication.
2. Assess the cause. Evaluate what may be motivating the aggressive behavior.
3. Create empathy. Help your child understand how others feel when they are bullied and let them know that everyone’s feelings matter.
4. Treat the problem seriously. Calmly let your child know that you will not tolerate cruel or aggressive behavior. Help your child to understand that bullying hurts everyone involved.
4. Develop clear guidelines. Establish clear rules and expectations for social conduct on and offline and praise your child when they demonstrate positive behavior.
5. Be realistic. It takes time to change behavior, be patient with your child as they learn new ways of handling feelings and conflict.
For more information about supporting children who bully others, explore the links below:
What to Do if Your Child Exhibits Bullying Behavior – ADL
The information listed below is taken from the sources that are linked under the information.
There are several protective factors that can help prevent bullying:
Help children understand bullying. Talk about what bullying is with your child and how to stand up to it safely.
Have a bullying action plan. Make sure your child knows how to get help if they are being bullied or witness bullying.
Talk with your child. Keep lines of communication open and know what is going on with your child when they’re at school, with their friends, and online.
Encourage your child to do what they love. Involving children in activities, interests, and hobbies can boost confidence, build friendships, and protect them from being bullied.
Regulate online behavior. Use parental controls and monitor your child’s online activity.
For more information about bullying prevention, explore the links below:
Bullying Prevention Tips – Anti-Defamation League
Parent Resources – Anti-Defamation League
Bullying Prevention Resources – CDC
Bullying Prevention Resources – Committee For Children
Bullying – National Institutes of Health