In the last few years, incidents of violent retribution by victims of bullying have led to an increased awareness of the problem of bullying. Bullying prevention programs are schoolwide efforts designed to send a message that bullying will not be tolerated in school. Programs that are carefully designed and implemented can improve school climate by educating staff and students to recognize and respond to instances of bullying. Bullying is most commonly defined as a student's being exposed, repeatedly and over time, to intentional injury or discomfort inflicted by one or more other students. This may include physical contact, verbal assault, making obscene gestures or facial expressions, and being intentionally excluded.
Bullying implies an imbalance in power or strength in which one child is victimized by others.
Surprisingly large proportions of students are bullied in schools. Unfortunately, such reactions may only reinforce the bullies' sense of power over the victims. Bullying has serious consequences not only for victims and perpetrators, but for the entire school. Left untreated, such reactions can evolve into depression, physical illness, and even suicide. Despite these effects, bullying is often tolerated and ignored.