One in seven students in grades K-12 are either bullying or being bullied. October is National Bullying Prevention Month, a time designed to raise awareness of bullying's devastating effects on both its victims and their families. Kids who are bullied are more likely to experience both mental and physical health issues, including depression and anxiety, and see a decrease in academic achievement. Families are often left feeling helpless, but in fact, parents play a key role in preventing and responding to bullying.
The first step is recognition of what bullying is and the different forms it can take. Join POPSUGAR Moms for the first in a series of Hangouts On Air today at 10 a.m. PDT/1 p.m. EDT. We'll be sitting down with GLAAD, Pacer's National Bullying Prevention Center, Google, and Tina Long, whose 17-year-old son Tyler Long committed suicide as a result of bullying, to get the facts straight, spread awareness, and help put an end to bullying. Join the conversation by using #bulliesbegone on Facebook, Google+, and Twitter. Visit the Stop Bullying Now event page to leave any questions you have for our panel of experts. And grab and share our badge to pledge your support to stop bullying now.