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OF pi
<br />COUNTY OF HAWAII STATE OF HAWAIJ
<br />RESOLUTION NO. 666 24
<br />A RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING OCTOBER AS ANTI -BULLYING AWARENESS
<br />MONTH AND PROMOTING EFFORTS TO TAKE A STAND AGAINST BULLYING IN
<br />HAWAIJ COUNTY.
<br />WHEREAS, October was first declared a National Bullying Prevention month in 2006,
<br />since then October has been a time to acknowledge that bullying has devastating effects on
<br />children and families; and
<br />WHEREAS, bullying in schools is a pervasive issue that undermines a student's ability
<br />to learn in a safe environment, resulting in long-lasting negative impacts on the mental,
<br />emotional, and physical well-being of victims, contributing to increased rates of depression,
<br />anxiety, substance abuse, and even suicide; and
<br />WHEREAS, bullying involves unwanted, aggressive behavior with a real or perceived
<br />power imbalance, manifesting in direct actions such as teasing, taunting, threats, hitting, and
<br />stealing, as well as indirect behaviors such as spreading rumors, exclusion, and creating social
<br />isolation — amounting to physical or psychological intimidation over time, creating a continuous
<br />pattern of harassment and abuse; and
<br />WHEREAS, studies from the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control show
<br />that children and teens who are bullied are more likely to suffer academically, face social
<br />isolation, and encounter personal development challenges, while bullies who go unchecked risk
<br />evolving into violent adults, often engaging in domestic violence and child abuse; and
<br />WHEREAS, the effects of bullying extend beyond the victim to the broader community,
<br />fostering a climate of fear, hostility, and exclusion that undermines efforts to create inclusive and
<br />supportive spaces in schools, workplaces, and other public settings; and
<br />WHEREAS, bullying is not confined to schoolyards, but also occurs in cyberspace,
<br />requiring a multifaceted and collaborative, community -wide approach combining education,
<br />prevention, intervention, and support strategies; and
<br />WHEREAS, bullying is not a harmless rite of passage, and bystander — those who
<br />witness bullying — can play a crucial role by intervening, supporting to victims, and empowering
<br />children and youth to recognize bullying behavior and report it to a trusted adult; and
<br />WHEREAS, children must understand what bullying is, know it is unacceptable, and
<br />feel safe reporting it, while adults must foster a supportive environment and provide guidance,
<br />comfort, ad actionable advice in response; and
<br />WHEREAS, October is nationally recognized as Anti -Bullying Awareness Month,
<br />encouraging schools, parents, youth, community organizations, and governments implement
<br />activities that raise awareness, prevent bullying, and support those who have been affected; now,
<br />therefore,
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