Amy Piacente-Desch, Senior Manager of Prevention and Morgan Durant, Prevention Specialist
July 7, 2025 – Bullying, both in-person and online, remains a significant issue affecting youth nationwide, causing serious harm. Studies show that about 19% of students in grades 6-12 report being bullied, with about 22% of those students reporting being bullied online or by text.
“As technology becomes more deeply integrated into youth’s daily lives, cyberbullying has emerged as a particularly harmful form of bullying, given its ability to reach people at all times – and at any location,” says Amy Piacente-Desch, Senior Manager of Prevention, RWJBarnabas Health Institute for Prevention and Recovery. “Additionally, we know youth who experience bullying are at an increased risk for depression, anxiety and poor academic outcomes. Often, they will engage in risky behavior—including substance use—to cope with bullying and its effects.”
Morgan Durant, Prevention Specialist, RWJBarnabas Health Institute for Prevention and Recovery, works with youth in schools and communities and sees firsthand the effects of bullying. “Ending bullying isn’t a one-person job – it takes everyone,” she shares. “One of the most important things you can do to combat bullying is to be an upstander!” Durant describes an upstander as a person who speaks up when they witness bullying situations, whether that be stepping in to support a peer or getting help from a trusted adult. “There is power in bystander intervention—57% of bullying situations stop when a peer intervenes on behalf of the youth being bullied.”
For Durant, being an upstander is critical to addressing bullying because it stops the behavior in the moment. “Of course, we strive to end bullying before it starts, but it’s important for kids and teens to know they aren’t powerless in those moments,” she adds. “When we give them the tools and confidence to stop bullying—whether in person or online—they can make a positive change for themselves, their classmates and their school.”
Tips for Preventing and Ending Online or In-Person Bullying
Ending bullying starts at home. Durant recommends parents or guardians talk to their children about bullying and its effects, especially online bullying. Open conversations allow you to set expectations, hear concerns and demonstrate that you are a trusted adult your child can confide in.
To start the conversation, Durant shares these tips that you can discuss with your child to help prevent or end bullying:
- Think Before You Post – Never share anything online that you wouldn’t want your teachers, family or future employers to see. Once something is online, it can be very difficult to remove.
- Protect Personal Information – Be cautious about sharing details like your location, school or telephone number.
- Report and Block Bullies – Most platforms allow you to report abusive behavior and block the user. Don’t hesitate to use these tools.
- Talk to a Trusted Adult – Reach out to someone you trust and tell them what’s going on – they can help.
Additionally, parents/guardians, teachers, coaches and other adults, play an important role in ending bullying. Durant suggests these strategies to build trust between adults and youth and create a positive environment:
- Listen without Judgment – Be someone they feel comfortable sharing their experiences with.
- Encourage Empathy and Respect – Use books, media and conversations to build compassion.
- Raise Awareness – Whether in the school, workplace or community, raise awareness about the impacts of bullying as well as the risks of early substance use.
- Support Bullying Prevention – Promote anti-bullying programs and peer support systems.
- Create Safe Spaces – Offer environments where youth feel seen, supported and safe to discuss their struggles without fear of stigma, judgment or ridicule.
- Be a Positive Role Model – The behaviors we model for young people are important and impact their development – including bullying and substance use. Positive parenting styles are associated with increased empathy in young people and negative styles are associated with higher rates of bullying and substance use.
- Parent Involvement – Talk to your children about emotional health and substance use.
Bullying is a pervasive issue impacting our youth, but we can all do our part to help stop it. By taking a few extra moments out of the day to spread kindness, be encouraging or speak up, we can stop bullying and create a more positive space.
For more resources about how to stop bullying, visit rwjbh.org/DARTresources.