So much is said about what bullying looks like, who bullying affects and where bullying happens, but little is said about how to prevent bullying before it even happens.
Whether bullying happens in school, on campus or at work, it has long-term, pervasive effects on morale and mood and can deeply alter academic achievement or workplace productivity. Wouldn’t it be ideal to stop it before it happens, rather than simply controlling the damage?
Creating a culture where diversity is respected and celebrated and members of your school or workplace community interact with one another in a respectful and inclusive manner is absolutely necessary to prevent bullying. Rather than recognizing and retroactively intervening in bullying incidents, you’ll be well on your way to proactively creating a culture in which bullying simply does not occur.

So how to start creating this culture?

It might seem overwhelming, but simply addressing the issue head-on can be helpful. Hosting an assembly or meeting in which past incidents are highlighted and members of your community can share their experiences, feelings and ideas in an open, safe and respectful environment can help start to heal past wounds and show that the community is