Highlighting Bullying Prevention Month
October is Bullying Awareness and Domestic Violence Awareness Month. It’s important to acknowledge the profound connections between these two critical issues.
While they may appear different to some degree, both bullying and domestic violence share common roots in power dynamics, control, and the impact on mental and emotional well-being in youth and adults.
Understanding the Connection:
- Power and Control: Both bullying and domestic violence are often driven by a need for power and control over others. In bullying, this can manifest through harassment, intimidation, and exclusion, while in domestic violence, it can involve physical, emotional, or psychological abuse aimed at taking power away from the individual.
- Impact on Mental Health: Victims of both bullying and domestic violence often experience emotional and psychological impact. This can have long-lasting effects on mental health, leading to anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.
- Cycle of Abuse: For some individuals, experiences with bullying in childhood can be linked to patterns of abuse in later relationships. Understanding this cycle is important for developing effective prevention and intervention strategies.
Some ways you can support those impacted are:
Ask:
- What can I do to help you feel safe? Have an open conversation about how they would like to be supported.
- Who can help if someone is being bullied? Discuss resources and who the trusted adults are in their home, community, and school life.
Give Resources:
- Consider San Diego Youth Services' Anti-BIAS and/or Safe Family Services as a resource. Connect with Anti-BIAS’ Program Manager Amy Chavez to consult about how to support students who have experienced bullying at achavez@sdyouthservice.org OR email safefamily@sdyouthservices.org if you have any questions about their services.
- Safe Family Services offers supportive services to Transition Age Youth (TAY), ages 18-24 years old, currently in a SDYS program, who have, historically, or are currently experiencing domestic violence.
- Those experiencing bullying can seek support through their schools, through San Diego Youth Services and 24/7 by calling or texting the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or by texting the word “HOME” to 741-741.
Put it in your calendar:
- Unity Day is Wednesday, October 16, 2024. Please wear orange to show unity for kindness, acceptance, and inclusion and to send a visible message that no child should ever experience bullying. Don’t forget to take a photo as a team so we can collect these moments of solidarity.
- Purple Thursday is Thursday, October 17. Please wear purple to show support for Domestic Violence Awareness Project 2024 theme Heal, Hold and Center to promote this year’s National Call for unity as an opportunity for “Connective Action.”
SDYS is also partnering with East County Hope Rally hosted by SDDVC (San Diego Domestic Violence Council) and the East County Refugee DV Task Force for Domestic Violence Awareness Month Rally which will be taking place October 25 from 10 am – 12 pm at 100 Civic Way Center, El Cajon, CA 92020.
As we reflect on these issues this October, let’s commit to raising awareness and advocate for those who are affected. Together, we can work towards creating a safer and more supportive environment for everyone.