Written by Dru Ahlborg, Co-Founder and Executive Director of BRRC

At the Bullying Recovery Resource Center (BRRC), we are humbled by the incredible growth we’ve experienced as an organization dedicated to empowering individuals and their families impacted by bullying. Our journey has been defined by a steadfast commitment to education and advocacy offering resources and tools to help individuals heal, and reclaim their confidence. Beyond providing knowledge, we are proud to foster meaningful community connections reaching more families and more organizations and individuals who serve families across Colorado. As we reflect on our progress, we remain inspired by the strength of those we serve and are motivated to continue expanding our impact, one connection at a time.

In 2024, BRRC is proud to share the following milestones on our journey:

• BRRC launched a FREE Parent Education class – Navigating Bullying Together: Partnering for Prevention. This class is available to any group of parents in Colorado who are interested in learning about bullying and bullying prevention. This can be taught in-person or online. For more information, please reach out to us: https://bullyingrecoveryresourcecenter.org/contact-us/
• We hosted our first BELONG Gala and celebrated inclusiveness and bullying recovery with over 150 of our supporters! The event exceeded our expectations and we are thrilled to announce the second BELONG gala is scheduled for October 2, 2025 – Save the Date!
• We assisted over 90 families across the state of Colorado and a few families who reside in other states. We are honored to walk shoulder to shoulder with families who are striving to end the bullying impacting their family. 
• We are actively working with an intern and Colorado State Representatives to create potential legislation to help all Colorado students.
• In 2024, BRRC was featured on podcasts, news stations, newspapers and radio stations this year. The word is out and we are grateful for the various communities who are spreading the word about our services and expertise. You can listen to any of these interviews here: https://bullyingrecoveryresourcecenter.org/blog/news/
• BRRC partnered with various organizations across Colorado to participate in events and trainings that highlight the autistic and neurodivergent, LGBTQ+, mental health and family communities.

As we close the chapter on an extraordinary 2024, we at the Bullying Recovery Resource Center are filled with gratitude and pride. This year has been a testament to the power of education, connection, and tenacity. Through the unwavering support of our community, we’ve expanded our reach, deepened our impact, and witnessed countless stories of recovery and growth. The challenges we’ve faced have only strengthened our resolve to continue this vital work. As we look ahead, we are excited to build on this momentum, knowing that together, we are creating a brighter, more compassionate future for everyone affected by bullying.

Written by Dru Ahlborg, Co-Founder and Executive Director of BRRC

Yes indeed, it is the Thanksgiving season and a time that many take time to reflect and practice gratitude. At BRRC, we find ourselves incredibly grateful. This past year we have served 93 new families across the state. We have met hundreds of new families at events we attended that serve families and children in the mental health, LGBTQ+, immigrant/refugee and neurodivergent communities. We hosted our first incredibly successful BELONG Gala and raised money to keep growing and serving bullied children and their families in many different ways. We are working on potential legislation and have launched a parent education class to reach more caregivers before the bullying gets out of control.

Practicing gratitude is a proven strategy for improving mental health for anyone. Studies show that it leads to better psychological health, greater life satisfaction and lower levels of stress and anxiety. A 2014 research study found out that students who keep a gratitude journal on a regular basis experienced an increase in optimism and found more and more reasons to be grateful. The act of identifying gratitude improves relationships, increases social support, and improves mental and physical health.

Practicing Gratitude in Schools:

Research suggests that students who practice gratitude tend to have lower anxiety, stress and depression and feel more satisfied in their life and in their relationships. A school that makes the act of thanking others and expressing gratitude a regular practice can create a culture where students and educators thrive!

A number of schools in Hawaii are taking gratitude to heart and implementing a gratitude program. These programs have led to improved culture, greater feelings of belonging for both students and staff, and addressing mental health concerns that provide nurturing for personal and academic growth. It should come as no surprise that when the culture of schools encompass belonging, support and gratitude, bullying will be less.

Here are the recommendation that these schools have identified to build a gratitude practice within a school:

1.  Identify behaviors to appreciate and recognize. The leadership of the school should recognize behaviors they feel complement the framework of the school and focus on community values. Students can and should be involved in this as well. Behaviors should both support academic positive characteristics as well as social characteristics.

2.  Talk about the valued behavior(s) with the student body. Speaking about the expected behaviors in the classroom helps the students look and identify the positive behavior and come up with their own ways of recognizing or practicing the behavior. Schools often start with a single behavior for a set time period. Students and staff should all be tasked with defining different ways to identify the behavior(s).

3.  Make time for students to write private notes expressing thanks and gratitude. Encouraging one-to-one thank you notes removes the stigma of an audience and assists students with expressing themselves more easily. The act of exchanging the notes not only aids in students learning to express gratitude and thanks, but also the receivers can be recognized for their contributions to the school.

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Expressing gratitude may be quite challenging for students who have been relentlessly bullied. Bullying reinforces feelings of isolation, self-doubt and hopelessness that many children deal with. Starting a practice of gratitude no matter how small can slowly help break the cycle of negativity and help children see good in their lives. Practicing gratitude can aid children recovering from bullying to begin to rebuild and foster positive relationships and not be defined by their past experiences.

In conclusion, there are many studies and mental health professionals who tout the wide array of benefits of identifying gratitude. It can be a practice that starts out slowly and grows. It can be adopted by schools to help positively shift cultures for the students and the staff. Gratitude helps improve the physical and mental well-being of those who make it part of their lives. It is a win-win for all and another speed bump against bullying.

The Dark Link Between Bullying and Suicide in Children

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is 988
(24/7 via phone or text)

Written by Dru Ahlborg, Co-Founder and Executive Director of BRRC

Bullying is a pervasive issue in schools across the globe, impacting millions of students each year. According to the National Center for Educational Statistics, more than one out of every 5 students ages 12-18 reported being bullied. The prevalence of bullying can have a profound psychological impact. Understanding the link between bullying and suicide is crucial for fostering a safer and more supportive environment for our youth.

Suicide is a complex issue that affects our youth at alarming rates. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention report nationally “youth and young adults ages 10-24 account for 15% of all suicides. It is the 2nd leading cause of death for this age group.”  In another study in 2024 reported by U.S.News and World Report states that there is an 8% annual increase in the number if American children ages 8-12 who died by suicide, with the sharpest increase seen among girls.

Often times there are other factors that play a part in teen suicide and suicide ideation. These conditions can include mental and behavioral disorders, childhood trauma or severe nutritional deficiencies. Bullying can also be a catalyst for suicide. According to a Yale University study, children who are bullied are between 2 to 9 ties more likely to consider suicide than non-targets. Children who have been bullied often experience feelings of powerlessness, anxiety and depression. Many will experience PTSD.

So what can we do? As parents, adults, educators and friends we can look for the signs.

Look for the signs of bullying:
Keep an eye out for sudden changes in children’s moods. Signs that a child may be targets for bullying can include them appearing more anxious or sad. They may have fewer or no friends. They may begin having unexplained headaches and stomachaches. They may want to quit extracurricular activities, no longer want to attend school or want to quit riding the bus. Their sleeping and eating patterns may change dramatically.

Look for the signs of depression:
Bullying often leads to depression, anxiety and hopelessness. If these occur, they should be addressed immediately. Some common signs of depression can include a sudden drop in grades, withdrawing, sleeping more, unexplained crying and aggressive anger.

Look for the signs of suicide:
Youth who are thinking about suicide may become very moody and appear hopeless. They can experience big shifts in their personality. Many times people who are suicidal stop contact with others and lose interest in day-to-day activities. Another sign is when they start to clean out their personal items and give away treasured things.

If you suspect someone is considering suicide, we strongly suggest you seek help immediately. It is okay to talk with them about suicide and ask if they have a plan. It can be incredibly scary, and it needs to be addressed. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available for caregivers and loved-ones as well: 1-800-273-8255.

As an organization, it is our passion to help lower the adolescent suicide rate. Bullying, depression and suicidal thoughts all need to be addressed quickly and thoughtfully. Children with mental health struggles can obtain help from mental health providers. As adults, we need to listen and walk through all these challenges with our youth. They are counting on us.

We are here to help families walk through the impacts of bullying. The quicker it can be addressed, the quicker a child can begin a road to recovery.

We stop bullying today to start recovering tomorrow.