OKEMOS - October is not only a time for pumpkins, cider and donuts, but it's also a time to stand up against bullying.

In honor of National Bullying Prevention Awareness Month, Andrea Bitely, Communication Director for Attorney General Bill Schuette, explained just how serious cyber-bullying has grown over the years.

"Cyber-bullying is very much a problem among all students across the country and here in Michigan. It can lead to thoughts of depression, thoughts of suicide, and even lead to suicide," said Bitely.

Okemos High School's Assistant Principal Steve Delp agreed that cyber-bullying is a serious issue and they're even seeing it happening more often in their schools.

"We get everything from students coming in here and showing us their phone and saying, 'look, this was posted to Twitter', to anonymous emails sometimes of screen shots. Students will print out pictures of screen shots and deliver that to us. So, it is something we see regularly," said Delp.

Due to major technology improvements, cyber-bullying has become more of an issue than ever before. It was one of the top three categories for most reported tips to OK2SAY, a program that allows students, parents, teachers or staff to anonymously report an incident of bullying or potential harm.

"With social media, it's easy to hide behind a keyboard," said Delp. "Students harassing each other or making comments towards each other... the days of being upset with somebody and leaving school at the end of the day and not seeing them again until the next morning, those days are over."

Delp also explained the severity of understanding that anything on social media is not just a two-way street anymore.

"It's not just going to the person most of the time, it's not just a text towards that one person. It's going out on social media and anybody that subscribes or follows the sender can now see that message."

With such a growing issue, Delp said they give their students strategies for dealing with these type of situations, like telling a trusted adult and reporting incidents to OK2SAY.

Whether it's through a phone call, online or the app, OK2SAY has made it easier for students to report a tip confidentially.

"Anyone can submit a tip through OK2SAY. Our program is targeted at grades 6-12, but we welcome tips from students younger than that, as well as parents or administrators if they feel they can't do something on their own," said Bitely.

"We caution students against bullying themselves, and we let them know that if you are being bullied, it's OK to tell someone."

Last year, OK2SAY received more than 1,400 tips that were submitted by students across Michigan. Most of those tips were related to bullying, cyber-bullying and suicide. Other tips included reporting drug use, weapon possession or assault.