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New Jersey anti-bullying findings, national mental health guidance, and research evidence explaining why school climate work is urgent now.

Insider NJ · January 17, 2024

New Jersey Anti-Bullying Task Force Releases 2023 State Report

By Insider NJ | January 17, 2024

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Trenton, NJ – The Task Force report highlights an alarming increase in HIB incidents reported since the last Task Force convened in 2016 and calls attention to dedicated funding, increased training, stronger student and staff supports, and school climate improvements to foster safe, inclusive, welcoming schools for all New Jersey students.

The current Task Force was convened from June 2023 through December 2023 under amendments to the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act (ABR) to evaluate implementation and submit recommendations to Governor Phillip J. Murphy, the Legislature, and the Commissioner of Education.

Stakeholder testimony from school staff, students, parents, and caregivers described growing hate speech and bias-based incidents online and offline, with repeated calls for direct funding to support school climate, wellness, and effective ABR implementation.

“We must work to ensure all students, especially our most marginalized students, feel safe, valued, welcomed, and treated with dignity and respect across our K-12 schools, colleges and universities, and in our communities.”
— Shannon Cuttle, Chairperson, Anti-Bullying Task Force

“It is time for the legislature to provide meaningful funding so that schools have the needed professional staff and resources to carry out legislative mandates.”
— Patricia Wright, Former Chairperson, Anti-Bullying Task Force

U.S. Surgeon General’s Advisory

Protecting Youth Mental Health (Dec 6, 2021)

School experiences strongly shape student mental health. Schools can be a place of belonging, purpose, and support, or a place of bullying, stress, and exclusion. The advisory outlines practical, school-level actions that protect all students.

Create positive, safe, and affirming school environments with anti-bullying enforcement and inclusive language.

Expand social and emotional learning programs and evidence-based approaches that support healthy development.

Train educators to recognize changes in student behavior and mental/physical health and connect students to support.

Provide a continuum of support including prevention, early intervention, trauma-informed care, and treatment pathways.

Expand school-based mental health staffing, including counselors, social workers, psychologists, nurses, and disability support staff.

Support school personnel wellbeing through realistic workloads, benefits, and staff wellness systems.

Prioritize students with higher risk factors, including disability, trauma, poverty, and family mental health challenges.

Mental Health First Aid USA Survey

School Board Member Priorities

• 86% reported high concern about student mental health (56% extremely concerned).

• Concern levels exceeded school funding, staffing challenges, and school safety.

• Top factors identified: family/home life (66%), social media (57%), bullying (44%).

• Suicide remains the third-leading cause of death for youth ages 15–19.

• One in four adolescents ages 12–17 had a substance use disorder or major depressive episode in the past year.

Bullying Research

What Studies Continue to Show

• Up to 30% of students are directly involved as bullies or victims.

• Nearly one-third of students in grades 6–10 reported bullying involvement in a representative sample of 15,686 students.

• Educators consistently underestimate bullying prevalence due to low-supervision settings and underreporting.

• Students targeted by bullying can experience depression, aggression, isolation, and elevated risk of suicidal ideation.

• Secret Service review found 71% of school shooters (1974–2000) had been bullying targets.

• Bystanders can be trained to intervene and become part of prevention, not reinforcement.

Resources for Educators and Districts

Implementation and Support References

Supporting Child and Student Social, Emotional, Behavioral, and Mental Health Needs (U.S. Dept. of Education)

National Center for School Mental Health

StopBullying.gov

Turnaround for Children Toolbox

Design Principles for Schools

Safe Schools Fit Toolkit (National Center for Healthy Safe Children)

Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network

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