Pan American Health Organization launches bullying prevention toolkit

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) has launched a new toolkit titled ‘What works to prevent bullying and cyberbullying of children and adolescents in the Americas’. This resource provides evidence-based recommendations and practical tools to detect, prevent, and respond to peer violence.

Data within the toolkit indicates that approximately one in four adolescents aged 13 to 17 in Latin America and the Caribbean reported experiencing school bullying within the last month. Prevalence rates vary by subregion, with roughly 23% in Central America and 30% in South America. Cyberbullying also presents a significant challenge, with reported rates between 7% and 27% in certain countries, affecting girls more frequently.

Britta Baer, a regional advisor at PAHO, noted that bullying can have serious consequences for physical, sexual, mental, and emotional health. The toolkit emphasizes the importance of early detection and the role of the health sector, education, and social protection in addressing these issues. It also advises families to maintain open communication and monitor behavioral changes such as isolation, anxiety, or sudden shifts in device usage.