Bullying can result in physical injury, social and emotional distress, self-harm, and even death. It also increases the risk for depression, anxiety, substance abuse, sleep difficulties, lower academic achievement, and dropping out of school for people who are the subject of bullying.

Youth who bully others are at increased risk for substance abuse, academic problems, and experiencing violence later in adolescence and adulthood. 

Youth who both bully others and are bullied themselves suffer the most serious consequences and are at greater risk for mental health and behavioral problems, in addition to all the other consequences.

The thing is, these descriptions don’t begin to paint a picture of the true cost of bullying in terms of relationships, growth, happiness, and even life. Bullying destroys young people’s confidence, curiosity, relationships, and all too often causes them to take their own life right when they are supposed to be learning and growing the most.

The cost is too high. We must act to change our culture to reduce and eliminate bullying, for our kids, and their future.