As children get ready to go back to school, a top U.S. health official wants people to be aware that bullying may cause problems.

Assistant Surgeon General Susan Blumenthal says bullying isn’t a normal part of child development. And she says it can cause serious problems for victims, as well as for the bullies themselves.

She says children who are bullied develop low self-esteem and can experience depression. She says those who bully have a four times greater chance of exhibiting criminal behavior later in life.

Blumenthal says bullying can be stopped if parents and school officials work to create a zero-tolerance atmosphere. And she says children should report all bullying to a trusted adult.

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