Bullying Prevention

child seated in shadow, with head in hands

Facts on Bullying

160,000 children in the United States miss school every day out of fear of being bullied. Nationwide surveys of 6th through 10th graders conducted by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development revealed that 17% of children in the 6th through 10th grade are bullied sometimes or weekly, while 19% bully others sometimes or weekly. (Ericson, OJJDP Fact Sheet, U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention)

Bullying is characterized by the following three criteria:

  • Aggressive behavior or intentional harmdoing
  • Carried out repeatedly and over time
  • It occurs within an interpersonal relationship characterized by imbalance of power.

A student is being bullied or victimized when he or she is exposed, repeatedly and over time, to negative actions on the part of one or more other students. Such negative actions include intentionally inflicting, or attempting to inflict, injury or discomfort upon another.

Direct bullying can be:

  • Teasing
  • Taunting
  • Threatening
  • Hitting
  • Pushing
  • Pinching
  • Stealing
  • Tripping
  • Destroying clothing, homework, etc.
  • Verbal threats
  • Hurtful words
  • Cruel jokes or tricks
  • Making someone do something they don't want to do
  • Ganging up on someone

Indirect bullying can be:

  • Intentional exclusion (i.e. "Don't play with him" or "Don't invite her")
  • Spreading rumors or gossip
  • Enforcing social isolation such as ignoring or leaving someone out
  • Mean looks or rude gestures
  • Writing and passing cruel or threatening notes, in person or via social media

One Thing We CAN Do:

Resist Allowing Direct and/or Indirect Bullying

Get Involved to Prevent Bullying

  • October is National Bullying Prevention Month - help organize an activity during this time.
  • Visit www.stopbullying.gov for more information on ways that you can make a difference in your school and in someone's life.
  • Contact our partners in the attached directory.

Bullying and Suicide Prevention

The Chicago Collaborative for Bullying and Suicide Prevention (CCBSP) is a partnership between Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) and Habilitative Systems, Inc. (HSI), providing meaningful collaboration at the intersection of Bullying and Suicide Prevention in Chicago.

Habilitative Services, Inc. (HSI) holds the grant award for Bullying and Suicide Prevention that includes providing the infrastructure for CCBSP. HSI is a nationally recognized human services agency that uses a continuum of care approach to provide much-needed programs to underserved populations and people living with an array of health and human service needs. 

Headquartered on the West side of Chicago, HSI has offered supportive programs to Chicago’s most disadvantaged and vulnerable residents for over 40 years and provides services to over 7,000 people annually in the North Lawndale, West Garfield, Austin, and Englewood communities in Chicago.