It's Bullying Prevention Awareness Month In San Mateo

SAN MATEO, CA — October is National Bullying Prevention Month, meant to bring attention to the bullying problem and involve people nationwide in a conversation on how to create a world safe from bullying.

San Mateo Union High School District is among many across the nation focusing on the issue. This month, the district is taking part in drawing attention to the dangers of bullying.

As the month comes to a close, Wednesday has been dubbed "Unity Day" across the nation, in which students everywhere were encouraged to wear the color orange. As organizers of the event describe:

For years, our society justified bullying with expressions, such as, “Bullying is a natural part of childhood,” “Some kids just deserve to be bullied,” or “Bullying is a rite of passage.” The goal of the day is to bring together youth, parents, educators, businesses, and community members across the nation to emphasize the message that bullying is not acceptable and that all students deserve to be safe in school, online, and in the community.

San Mateo Union High School District promotes various resources when it comes to dealing with the issue of bullying.

According to the district's website, they include:

121 Help.me (www.121help.me)
121help.me is a program of the North American Alliance of Child Helplines (NAACH). The goal of
the program is to create universal crisis portals for children/youth, both on the phone and online, as mechanisms to reach qualified, professional crisis counselors 24/7. For information
about NAACH or 121help.me please contact info@121help.me
Phone: (855) 201-2121 Help Line

B.R.A.V.E (www.bravesociety.org)
B.R.A.V.E is an association for children K-12 and is passionately committed to creating
awareness and demanding accountability, while calling for action. The EPIC program addresses
the many forms that peer abuse can take and informs children of their rights and responsibilities
based on state and federal laws related to peer abuse.
Phone: 916-903-6627
Address: 5036 Kinross Road, Carmicheal, CA 95609

STOMP Out Bullying (www.stompoutbullying.org)
The STOMP Out Bullying™ HelpChat Line is a confidential online chat that helps youth ages 13-
24 with issues around bullying and cyberbullying; we also provide support to youth who may be
at risk of suicide.
Phone: (855) 790-HELP (4357)

STOP Cyberbullying (www.stopcyberbullying.org)
Education, Information, and Prevention for victims of cyberbullying.

As part of a national reporting project, Patch has been looking at society's roles and responsibilities in bullying and a child's unthinkable decision to end their own life in hopes we might offer solutions that save lives.

Do you have a story to tell? Are you concerned about how your local schools handle bullies and their victims?

Email us at bullies@patch.com and share your views in the comments.