Bullying workshop coming to Middle Island

A parent workshop focusing on bullying, cyberbullying and youth depression will take place next Tuesday, Oct. 11, at Longwood Junior High School in Middle Island.

The program is open to parents in the Longwood school district community, but parents are asked not to bring children, district spokeswoman Myra Vaughn said in a statement.

John Halligan, whose son Ryan Patrick Halligan of Essex Junction, Vt., committed suicide at age 13 after being bullied at school and online, will speak at the event, Vaughn said.

“The focus of the workshop will be to empower parents with the strategies to take preventive actions with their own children,” Vaughn’s statement said. “Students at the Junior High School will be participating in workshops at the school during the day that are specifically geared for their age group.”

The program will run from 7 to 8:30 p.m., Vaughn said. The event is sponsored by the Longwood Council of PTAs, she said.