TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) -- As students go back to school, they may face more than just academic challenges. One out of every four students is currently being bullied in the U.S. according to the National Bullying Prevention Center.
Bullying in Florida is defined as "Systematically and chronically inflicting physical hurt or psychological distress on one or more students or employees that is severe or pervasive enough to create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment; or unreasonably interfere with the individual’s school performance or participation", according to the Florida Department of Education.
Officer Northway's advice to parents is to "not ignore it" if your child comes home and claims that have been victims of bullying. Students who experience bullying are at an increased risk for depression, anxiety , sleep difficulties and poor school adjustment, according to the Center for Disease Control. Officer Northway went on to note that several high profile teen suicides were the result of unchecked bullying.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, 15.7 percent of High School Students experienced bullying on school property in the 2014-2015 school year. In reference to bullying prevention Officer Northway Stated, " My children come home and talk about bullying. They aren't being bullied but they talk about it because their teachers talk about it . That is awareness and it's exactly what we need."
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