Teens everywhere are being bullied every day... Bullies can cause physical harm, but what's even worse, emotional harm. The National Youth Violence Prevention Resource Center estimates that nearly 30 percent of American youth are either a bully or a target of bullying. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which established the resource center after the Columbine shootings in 1999, every day an estimated 160,000 kids nationwide stay home from school because they are afraid of being bullied. In addition, researchers at the Yale School of Medicine, in a new review of studies from 13 countries, have found signs of an apparent connection between bullying, being bullied and suicide. Almost all found connections between being bullied and suicidal thoughts among children. Five reported that bullying victims were two to nine times more likely to report suicidal thoughts than were other children. Every day, teens are being made fun of, and whether the people doing it think it was a joke or not, they don't know how it really affects the person who it is happening to. This petition is for people to pledge to help stop bullying to prevent suicide, or other self harm actions. By signing, you say that you will either not bully, prevent bullying in any way possible, or stand up for someone who is being bullied.