Brave2gether
Working Together to Create a Safer World for Teens
Bullying: A Crisis Affecting Our Teens
From hidden emotional scars to vulnerable teens and powerless parents, bullying impacts everyone.
Is Your Child Suffering in Silence?
Bullying's Impact Goes Deeper Than You Think
Bullying is the systematic abuse of power, defined as aggressive behavior or intentional harm-doing by peers that is carried out repeatedly and involves an imbalance of power. Cyberbullying, a digital form of this abuse, takes place over electronic devices and involves using technology to harm or cause pain to another person. This can include sending, posting, or sharing negative, harmful, false, or mean content about someone else, as well as sharing personal or private information that causes embarrassment or humiliation.
Bullying can take many forms, and it remains a pervasive problem in schools, with far-reaching consequences. It can leave deep emotional scars, leading to anxiety, depression, academic challenges, social withdrawal, and even physical health problems. Often, the signs are hidden, and teens suffer in silence.
Bullies themselves face negative outcomes, including a higher likelihood of engaging in antisocial behaviors, substance abuse, and experiencing academic failure. Furthermore, they are 1.5 times more likely to have lower academic achievement and engage in school avoidance.
Who Is Most at Risk?
Bullying Impacts Some Teens More Than Others
While any teen can be bullied, some groups are especially vulnerable. Students with disabilities, LGBTQ+ teens, socially isolated or marginalized teens, and teens who come from families in low-income or under-resourced communities often face a higher risk of bullying and may lack the support they need to cope.
Both in school and online, students with disabilities may struggle with social interactions or have difficulty defending themselves, making them particularly vulnerable.
Students who identify as part of the LGBTQ+ community face a significantly higher risk of bullying, harassment, and discrimination in school settings and online. Many also confront rejection or lack of understanding from their families or communities, further complicating the issue.
Whether due to race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or other factors, socially isolated or marginalized teens are at higher risk of bullying and may lack strong support networks to help them cope.
Families in low-income or under-resourced communities face additional challenges in dealing with bullying, including limited access to resources like counseling or specialized coaching. Bullying in these communities may be compounded by other stressors such as unstable housing, financial difficulties, and higher rates of violence or trauma.
Why Don't Parents Intervene?
The Challenges of Addressing Bullying
Parents often find it difficult to navigate the complex world of bullying. Many struggle to differentiate between normal conflict and bullying, and fear that their intervention might worsen the situation or lead to retaliation. They may feel unsupported by schools, overwhelmed by their own responsibilities, or hindered by social stigma and limited resources. This leaves many parents feeling powerless and unsure how to protect their children.
What many parents don't realize is that bullying's impact can extend far beyond childhood. It can affect a child's mental health, social skills, and future success. Despite these serious consequences, bullying often goes unrecognized and unaddressed by both families, schools, and even healthcare professionals. When schools do attempt to intervene, they may not always engage parents effectively in the process, reducing the likelihood of successful outcomes. This highlights the urgent need for greater awareness, support, and effective intervention strategies.
Are Schools Failing to Protect Our Children?
The gap in school bullying support
Schools play a vital role in addressing bullying, as children spend much of their time under their care. However, many schools struggle with implementing effective anti-bullying policies and providing adequate training for staff. This can result in inconsistent responses, overlooked incidents, and a culture where bullying is minimized or even normalized.
To truly combat bullying, schools need a comprehensive approach that goes beyond simply reacting to major incidents. This includes addressing subtle forms of bullying, engaging parents effectively, and fostering a school culture where everyone feels safe and supported. By working together, schools, parents, and communities can create lasting change and protect our children from the harmful effects of bullying.
How Brave2gether Helps
We offer comprehensive strategies and support to effectively address bullying, create a safe environment, and ensure lasting change for all teens.
For Parent & Teens
Youth Empowerment Sessions & Activities
Parent Support Sessions
Customized Family Sessions
For Schools
Basic Bullying Prevention Training
Advanced Prevention and Intervention Training
Schoolwide Partnership Program
Who We Are
Get to know the team who work to help create a safer world for our teens.
Morenika Somerville
Founder, Brave2gether
Morenika Somerville understands firsthand the long-term effects of bullying. Her personal experiences have motivated her to develop Brave2gether, an initiative aimed at providing much-needed awareness among families and schools, as well as offering practical support and solutions accessible to every household with teenagers. With a genuine passion for young people’s success, Morenika is currently raising two teenagers, which keeps her skills sharp and her understanding of youth issues current.
Holding a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Mercer University and a Master’s degree in Organizational Communication with a focus on training and development from Southern Illinois University, Morenika brings a strong educational foundation to her work. As an Army veteran with five years of leadership and administrative experience, her service in a warzone during Operation Iraqi Freedom taught her the value of cherishing each day. This perspective fuels her mission to combat bullying, which creates division and fosters unhealthy environments. Morenika is dedicated to uniting families, youth, and schools in pursuit of unity and safety, both in educational institutions and online.
Morenika’s experience as a teen instructor for church youth ministry provided her with valuable mentorship skills, helping young people navigate life’s challenges. Her approach to connecting with teens is neither pushy nor presumptuous, allowing for genuine relationships to form. At Mercer University, her alma mater, she taught interpersonal skills and communication courses, recognizing that many college level students needed support and guidance from caring instructors to succeed.
Morenika Somerville
Founder
