Bullying Prevention Month: Do You Have A Story In Smithtown?

SMITHTOWN, NY — National Bullying Prevention Month kicks off this October across the nation.

According to the National Bullying Prevention Center, every day, thousands of young people experience bullying from their peers while at school, after school in their neighborhoods, and even when they are at home, through social media and texts.

"There are many ways to support bullying prevention as an individual or with friends and family, and within your school or community," the center states on its website. (Learn some here)

Here's what Smithtown Central School District had to say about bullying:

"'Bullying' is a hostile activity which harms or induces fear through the threat of
further aggression and/or creates terror...Harassment, or bullying includes a sufficiently severe action or a persistent, pervasive pattern of actions or statements directed at an identifiable individual or group which are intended to be or which a reasonable person would perceive as ridiculing, demeaning or threatening. Harassment is also the creation of a hostile environment. Intimidation, which includes engaging in actions or statements that, put an individual in fear of bodily harm."

PATCH SERIES: DEALING WITH BULLIES

As part of a national reporting project, Patch has been looking at society's roles and responsibilities in bullying.

Do you have a story to tell? Email us at bullies@patch.com, or share your views in the comments.

This article contains reporting from the Patch national desk.

Don't forget to visit the Smithtown Patch Facebook page. Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Send local news tips and correction requests to michael.desantis@patch.com.