Parents are being encouraged to talk with their kids and take a larger role in their online activities, hoping to cut the harmful effects of cyber-bullying on a national day of action.

Mental health group KidsMatter says about two thousand schools have signed up to help children prevent and intervene in cases of bullying before they go too far.

Today is the fourth annual National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence.

Psychologists hope parents will begin to engage in regular, ongoing and non-confrontational conversations with their children, saying breaking down a few simple barriers can lead to dramatic improvements for kids in tough times.

KidsMatter psychologist Dr Lyn O'Grady has told the AAP say parents can help by “getting kids to know it's okay to talk about it... [and that] you won't ban them from using [social media].”

Recent surveys have shown about twenty per cent of children have been victims of cyber-bullying, which KidsMatter says can have serious mental health effects and can seem inescapable to many of its young victims.

Dr O'Grady says the digital form of harassment is particularly pervasive, as it is publically accessible but also strikes in the privacy of the home.

The National Day of Action focuses on all types of bullying and violence impacting children, but the growing issue of social media bullying is quickly becoming a chief concern.

As part of this year’s events, social media site Facebook will partner with anti-bullying group Project Rockit to hold a safety workshop for Sydney high-schoolers.