For the third year, the AAO will observe National Bullying Prevention Month in October, which will coincide with National Orthodontic Health Month.

For our anti-bullying effort the AAO will partner with Stand for The Silent. Founded in 2010, Stand for the Silent has become one of the leading and most effective anti-bullying organizations.  You and your team are invited to help build awareness of this issue and to access our easy-to-use resources.

A study published in the AJO-DO reported a significant relationship between bullying because of dentofacial features and adverse effects on oral health-related quality of life. The results highlight the importance of addressing the bullying problem among schoolchildren and provide essential data for educational authorities to create anti-bullying programs to help students receive education in a safe and healthy environment. To read more about this study, click here. 

To make it easy to participate and promote kindness and compassion in your community, the AAO is providing creative materials for the promotional campaign known as #bullyingbites.

Traditional National Orthodontic Health Month materials, which include fliers, posters, social media posts and more, are also available for members wishing to use them. Learn more about National Orthodontic Health Month by clicking here. Find materials by logging in and scrolling down the linked page to Promotions > National Orthodontic Health Month.

Bring the #bullyingbites Campaign to Your Practice and Community
Join the #bullyingbites campaign for the following:

 ● Celebrate Unity Day
When:  Wednesday, October 20
What to do: Ask everyone in your office to wear T-shirts to help raise awareness and share the anti-bullying message.  
Tip:  Members interested in a time-saving approach are welcome to use the AAO’s graphic design on T-shirts. Or, put your or a team’s creativity to work on a customized anti-bullying concept and design for your practice.
Find resources:  Click here to access the T-shirt graphic template.
Want to be featured in our #unityday video? Submit your team’s photo sporting orange to [email protected]!
(Scroll down the page to the Go Orange section.)

● Take the Pledge
When: During National Bullying Prevention Month in October
What to do: Distribute an anti-bullying pledge form from Stand for the Silent, the AAO’s partner in this initiative, to patients and staff members.
Find resources:  Click here to access the pledge form.
(Scroll down to the Take the Pledge section.)

The pledge states: 
“From this day forward, I promise to respect those around me as well as respect myself. I am somebody, and I can make a difference. I can make another feel loved. I can be the helping hand that leads another back to the path of hope and aspiration. I will not stand silent as others try to spread hatred through my community. Instead, I pledge to lift up those victims and show them that their life matters. I will be the change because I AM SOMEBODY!”

● Amplify the Anti-Bullying Message
When:  During National Bullying Prevention Month in October
What to do:  Utilize AAO communication tools including downloadable posters, social media toolkits (to guide your writing), and a press release template that you can customize with your practice information and distribute to your local media.
Find resources: Click here to access posters and social media materials.
(Scroll down the page to the Spread the Word section.)

● Consider Options for Providing Philanthropic Support
When:  Any time, but especially during National Bullying Prevention Month in October
What to do:  Help take a bite out of bullying by getting involved:

▪ Serve as a volunteer or provide financial assistance to the AAO Foundation Donated Orthodontic Services program. Click here to find out more about this important program.

▪ Support Stand for the Silent. The anti-bullying organization provides educational assembly programs at schools nationwide, which community members may sponsor. If your practice is already active in supporting nearby schools or if you would like to get involved, sponsoring an anti-bullying presentation can be a unique way to help kids in your community. Click here to learn more.