We've all seen the headlines. California ninth grader, tired of being picked on, fights back with a loaded gun. Two Colorado boys taunted at school answered years of bullying with assault weapons and homemade bombs. And a Connecticut mother is facing prison from not protecting her 12 year old son from abuse at school. He committed suicide. Just a few of the reasons that educators like Jim Suftin take bullies and the problems they cause so seriously.

"Any students that walks out of your building that has been a victim of bullying and learns to hate themelves, becomes depressed, can't stand coming to school is a loss," said Suftin.

Alegent Health therapist Kirk Reber says that is exactly what happens when kids are constantly harrassed, pushed around or picked on. It's often because they're quiet, different or stand out in a crowd and unlike normal playground fights, kids tend to wear the scars long after school is out.

"One study showed that 14% of the victims or targets of bullying have histories of lifelong mental illness, a severe condition," said Reber.

The experts start seeing more incidents of bullying around age 12. They also see more girls inflicting the pain. Educators want kids to know it's ok to tell and that no one is ever an innocent bystander.

"You're either part of the problem or part of the solution and if we can get our bystanders to stand up and directly go to the bully and say ‘stop it', then we would have more control over the entire situation," said Suftin.

And have more opportunities to step in and help before it's too late.