MVUSD Brings Awareness to Bullying, Cyberbullying

Awareness about bullying and cyberbullying will take center stage during a series of assemblies and parent presentations at middle schools in Murrieta next week.

John Halligan, who lost his 13-year-old son to suicide, will speak about his son's tragic choice as a result of being bullied by peers in school and online.

Halligan spearheaded the Vermont Bullying Prevention law in 2004. He also led the passing of a law in 2006 pertaining to suicide prevention education in public schools.

Primetime with Diane Sawyer devoted an entire episode to cyberbullying and Ryan’s story in 2006 called “Cruel Intentions.” Along with his wife Kelly, Halligan also appeared in the PBS Frontline special called “Growing up On-line” and on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2009.

The parent presentations are open to the adult public only due to the sensitive nature of the topics, and will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 23 at and 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 24 at .

Halligan will share with parents the lessons his family learned too late regarding how to deal with bullying, cyberbullying, teen depression and prevention strategies and actions parents can use with their children, according to Karen Parris, spokesperson for the Murrieta Valley Unified School District.

Middle school assemblies will be held Aug. 23, 24 and 25.

"Halligan’s story is riveting and powerful and he reminds students that there is a face, a person, a heart, on the other end of the computer screen," Parris said.

Students will gain perspective on the consequences of bullying and cyberbullying and they will also gain awareness about the signs and risk of teenage depression and how best to help a friend, Parris said.

Ryan Halligan's story is chronicled on Ryanpatrickhalligan.org.