The Delta Beta Chapter of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated hosted an event to highlight National Bullying Prevention Month Monday night via Zoom.

Before the event members encouraged students and staff to wear orange all day Monday in recognition of the awareness month.

The group discussed how common bullying is and asked everyone to give a definition of bullying.

The definition of bullying is “seek to harm, intimidate, or coerce (someone perceived as vulnerable.)”

The discussion portion focused on how the attendees have been involved with bullying in their past.

One of the participants explained what bullying was like for her in high school.

“I was bullied in high school because people said that I was too skinny,” the participant explained.

She said it was annoying it and that there was nothing that she could do to stop them from commenting on her size.

There are many a number of ways that people can be bullied. Physical, verbal, social and cyber.

Regina Serrano, Sigma Gamma Rho secretary said that in this day in age, there are a lot of people that fall victim to cyber bullying.

Statistics state that 1 in 5 people report being bullied, and that 46 percent notify adults.

Sigma Gamma Rho Treasurer D’nesha Griffin talked about the importance of stopping rumors.

She said middle school and high school aged girls are bullied from the start of rumors in most cases and that if people can stop students from spreading rumors about one other then maybe the number of bullying reports will decrease.

Short term effects of bullying can be social isolation, feelings of shame, sleep disturbance, changes in eating habits, low self-esteem, school avoidance, symptoms of anxiety, bedwetting, high risk of illness, psychosomatic symptoms, poor school performance and symptoms of depression.

Long term effects chronic depression, increased risk of suicidal thoughts, suicide plans, and suicide attempts, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, poor general health, self-destructive behavior including self-harm, substance abuse and difficulty establishing trusting, reciprocal friendships and relationships.

Imani Tapley can be reached at 581-2812 or istapley@eiu.edu.