Bullying and You: If you’re being bullied, I need you to hear this: What’s happening to you is not your fault.

Recently, a Central Illinois teen committed suicide due to bullying. That is unacceptable.

This is something serious—and important. Bullying isn’t ‘just words.’ It can pile up until someone feels trapped, invisible, or hopeless. And no one deserves to feel that way. Ever.

If you’re a teen and being bullied, I need you to hear this: what’s happening to you is not your fault. You don’t have to handle it alone. Even if you’ve tried telling someone before and nothing changed, that does not mean your voice doesn’t matter. It means the system needs to do better—and you still deserve help.

If you see bullying, silence can feel safer—but it can also leave someone feeling completely alone. You don’t have to confront anyone or put yourself in danger. You can check in with the person, walk with them, sit with them, and tell a trusted adult. Small actions can mean everything.

And if you’re struggling right now—if you feel overwhelmed, isolated, or like things won’t get better—please talk to someone today. A friend. A counselor. A pastor. A parent. A teacher.

If you’re in the U.S., you can also call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential, and there to help you through the moment.

Next, I want to talk directly to anyone who has bullied someone—or who might be doing it right now. This isn’t about labeling you a bad person. It is about stopping behavior that causes real harm.

You might think it’s a joke. You might think it’s stress, anger, or just how things are. But here’s the truth: you don’t get to decide how much your words or actions hurt someone. What feels small to you can feel crushing to them. Bullying isn’t strength. It’s not power. Most of the time, it’s a sign that something inside you isn’t okay—pressure, insecurity, pain, or needing control. And hurting someone else will never fix that.

Here’s the part that matters most: you can stop. Right now. You can choose not to comment. Not to post. Not to hit. Not to pile on. You can walk away. You can apologize. You can ask for help instead of taking it out on someone else.

If you’ve already hurt someone, it’s not too late to do better—but doing better means changing the behavior, not just saying ‘sorry.’ Tell the person you made a mistake and didn't understand the impact of your actions. Want to feel big? Want to feel strong? Doing this will make you feel like a hero. It will literally change your life.

You are responsible for the impact of your actions. And you are also capable of choosing something different. That choice could literally save a life.

Your life matters. Your feelings matter. And asking for help is not weakness—it’s strength. 

We are better when we look out for one another.