Experience & Reach: 20+ Years, 2,500+ Schools, 1 Million+ Students
In memory of Ryan Patrick Halligan 1989–2003
Ryan’s Story by John Halligan: A Meaningful Middle & High School Assembly on Bullying, Cyberbullying and Suicide Prevention
Ryan's Story, presented by John Halligan, is a powerful, age-appropriate school assembly that helps students choose kindness and empathy, become upstanders, seek help when they are struggling, and create a more compassionate school culture.
Watch John Halligan introduce Ryan’s Story, a 60-minute assembly for grades 5–12 about bullying, cyberbullying and suicide prevention.
Find What You Need
School Staff: Explore the student assembly · Planning & lesson materials
Parents: Family resources · Parent program
Students: Find support & prevention resources
A School Assembly Addressing Bullying, Cyberbullying, Mental Health and School Culture
Ryan’s Story is a 60-minute assembly for students in grades 5–12, combining personal storytelling with guided discussion about bullying, cyberbullying, emotional wellbeing, and seeking help.
In 2003, I lost my 13-year-old son, Ryan, to suicide. I share our family’s story with honesty and care, including the bullying he experienced and the role depression played, so students can reflect on their own lives and how they treat others.
Rather than lecture, I invite students to become upstanders, take responsibility when they have caused harm, and turn to trusted adults when they or a friend need support. My message is personal and practical: kindness matters, asking for help is a strength, and no one should face a struggle alone.
An Assembly That Doesn't End When the Bell Rings
A meaningful assembly for students in grades 5–12 focused on empathy, kindness, accountability, mental health, digital responsibility and becoming an upstander.
Plan for 60 minutes total: personal storytelling followed by guided discussion and reflection. Please allow additional time for students to arrive and leave the auditorium.
The conversation should continue after the assembly. Educator planning materials, student resources, and a separate parent program help school communities carry the message into classrooms and homes.
Above all, I want students to hear: You matter. You are valued. You are not alone. You are loved beyond belief.
Following Ryan’s death, I spearheaded Vermont’s first bullying prevention legislation and helped pass a law addressing suicide prevention education in public schools. My work has been featured on PBS Frontline, Oprah, ABC Primetime with Diane Sawyer, and TLC.
What Students Take Away From Ryan's Story
Ryan's Story, presented by John Halligan, is more than an anti-bullying assembly. Students leave understanding how everyday choices can influence the culture of their school. The presentation encourages students to:
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Choose kindness and empathy in person and online
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Recognize bullying and cyberbullying and speak up
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Move from bystander to upstander
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Understand the connection between emotional distress and asking for help
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Take greater responsibility for social media and digital behavior
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Support classmates who may feel isolated or excluded
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Know when to involve a trusted adult
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Understand that forgiveness, accountability and compassion can change relationships
The Details
Middle & High School Student Assembly
Length: 60 minutes
Ryan’s Story is a 60-minute assembly for grades 5–12: personal storytelling followed by guided discussion and reflection. John invites students to practice empathy, speak up about bullying, seek help from trusted adults, and support one another.
Parent Program on Social Media, Cyberbullying & Teen Mental Health
Length: 60 minutes
John Halligan shares his hard-earned lessons about cyberbullying and suicide from his family's tragedy. It is updated every school year to address the latest social media problems facing preteens and teens. Practical recommendations are provided for parents to prevent suicide and bullying. Parents leave with a clear, actionable understanding of what their kids are encountering online — and practical steps to stay connected and engaged.
For more information click here.
Video Access format available too. click here
What Students, Parents & Educators Remember
A few personal reflections, shared in their own words. These experiences are not a measure of how every student responds.
“There isn’t a week that goes by that I don’t think back to the presentation and story you told.”
Stephanie, former student (excerpt)
“For once, it was something that was real and tangible. … Yours, however, resonated and was authentic.”
Teacher, Long Valley Middle School, New Jersey (excerpt)
“I learned quite a bit about how I need to communicate with my son and have this on-going conversation about how to treat others.”
Parent (excerpt)
Read the full testimonial collection
Read the evaluation and its context
Content note: The full collection includes accounts of suicidal thoughts or attempts. Individual accounts do not establish that one assembly prevents suicide.
