Just teasing, taunting, all in good humor? Not so fast.  For the critics out there that think bullying is just a normal childhood experience; take at look at this:  Every half an hour, there is a youth suicidal death that has resulted from bullying (Marr & Field, 2001).  I’m not sure about you, but I’ve never considered suicide a normal part of childhood.  As a matter of fact, it pains me to know that there are even more children out there who have considered suicide, attempted and not completed it, or have gone unreported in the statistics.  

Let’s take it one step further and acknowledge that these suicidal thoughts do not only reside in the hearts of those that are bullied, but also those that bully.  Bullies [themselves] are at a higher risk for suicide ideations, suicide attempts, and completed suicides. Bullies may be 2 to 9 times at greater risk for suicide when compared to their non-bullying peers (Kim & Leventhal, 2008).

My mission as I travel across this country with my Operation Mojo NO Bullying Tour is to positively affect the lives of all children.  It is not just the bullied that are suffering.  As you see above, this epidemic is threatening the lives of both the bullied and the bully.  My message is intended to empower the bully to face their pain and walk away from their demons and to build up the confidence of the bullied so that they value themselves as they face each new day.  I charge you to join me in helping to heal the pain of all those children besieged by this epidemic. MOJO UP and make sure the schools in your community are a part of the Fall Operation MOJO -No Bullying tour!