Canadian country singer Stacey Zegers caught our attention when she created her music video, Sunflower, about bullying. Growing up having been bullied herself, Stacey wanted to create awareness and used her voice as an opportunity to create an anti-bullying campaign. Bullying is a problem that affects way too many children and teens. According to one study, bullying occurs in school playgrounds every 7 minutes and once every 25 minutes in the classroom.* The damaging emotional and psychological effects of bullying can have lasting lifetime impacts, including mental health problems, relationship issues and even suicide. Stacey describes bullying as "when someone does or says something to hurt someone else. It is always on purpose. Bullies can work on their own or in packs. Either way, bullying is about making someone feel small and powerless. No one asks to be bullied, and no one deserves it." We were happy when Stacey agreed to come to mindyourmind to talk to us about her music and her efforts against bullying. She tells us how she coped with being bullied and what kind of impact it had on her. Today, she records with country music artists that play with Keith Urban and Reba Mcentire and is doing what she loves, being a singer.

For more info on Stacey Zegers, visit: http://staceyzegers.com/

*http://www.cca-kids.ca/media/facts_bullying.html