Bullying is Out of Control

Atlanta, GA, June 19, 2012 --(PR.com)-- Bullying is nothing new but it seems that the problem may have reached an all time high. School is supposed be a place of learning, socializing and having fun. However, that reality is being threatened by an increase in bullying and youth violence. These problems affect school attendance, drop-out rates, and can lead to more escalated levels of violence.

Outstanding Apparel is joining the fight against bullying by partnering with organizations working to curb bullying and youth violence. They have just released its “No Bullying” t-shirt and putting their money where their mouth is. The company is agreeing to donate $5 for each shirt they sell to support anti-bullying activities. “We want to help get the word out about this very serious issue and help raise money to support anti-bully programs,” said Cornelius Davis, company CEO.

There are some alarming statistics associated with bullying. Bully victims are between 2 to 9 times more likely to consider suicide than non-victims, according to studies by Yale University. Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people, resulting in about 4,400 deaths per year, over 14 percent of high school students have considered suicide, and almost 7 percent have attempted it according to the Center for Disease Control. Not all of these suicides are directly related to bullying but a significant number of them are.

According to the National Education Association, 1 out of every 10 students who drop out of school does so because of repeated bullying, 56% of students have personally witnessed some type bullying at school, 71% of students report incidents of bullying as a problem at their school and 15% of all school absenteeism is directly related to fears of being bullied at school.

Bullying can lead to escalated levels of violence, 86% of students said, "other kids picking on them, making fun of them or bullying them causes teenagers to turn to lethal violence in the schools. Over the years we have witnessed several incidents of mass shootings at schools across the country. So not only is it important to stop bullying for the sake of victims but it is also important to stop it for the safety of the bully and other students."