Bullying at school

Bullying affects youth of all ages and backgrounds and has negative impacts on the victim as well as the bully. Canadian survey data shows that between 12 to 18 per cent of young people report being involved in bullying, either as the person being bullied or the person doing the bullying. School strategies need to address both victims and bullies across school demographics. Learn more about the facts and myths of bullying (PREVnet).

Strategies focused on building self-esteem, developing respectful relationships and providing clear but respectful communication tend to be the most successful. Children who are bullied need to be empowered and supported in developing healthy relationships. Children who are bullying others need to learn social responsibility, empathy, right from wrong and remedial actions such as rebuilding relationships and apologizing. There is evidence from PREVnet that children who bully risk a lifetime of difficult relationships with others, including being bullied themselves.

Bullying can appear in several forms:

• Verbal bullying: Examples are name calling, making fun of, making jokes at another's expense, unwelcome teasing, spreading secrets someone disclosed in confidence.
• Physical bullying: Pushing, shoving, pinching, hitting, spitting, damaging property, vandalizing locker or school supplies.
• Social bullying: Examples are spreading rumours, being exclusive with friends, excluding people from events or study groups.
• Cyberbullying: Using social media to intimidate, exclude, disseminate private information, using texting, emails, or other applications to damage someone's reputation. Learn more about cyberbullying.

• Encourage your child, youth, student or classmate to report bullying they either experience or witness to school staff such as teachers, counsellors, principals or parents. Students can also use the anonymous erase Report It tool.
• Provide opportunities for open dialogue about sensitive topics so kids can gain the positive mental health, emotional intelligence and language skills to talk with their peers about difficult issues.
• Lead by example – identify and talk about emotions, and be a good role model.
• Learn to recognize and intervene if someone is being bullied - intervening can be empowering for both the person being bullied and the one who intervenes.
• Teach kids simple conflict resolution skills, the importance of using “I” language to express emotions and taking responsibility for your own actions, words, feelings - to promote empathy.
• Help your child change their school dynamics - join different study groups, sports teams, after school activities, make new friends and build new relationships.
• Teach children that saying sorry if they hurt someone’s feelings and taking appropriate accountability is a strength.
• Encourage a bully to reflect on why they bullied, and how they would feel if the tables were turned and they were on the receiving end.
• Have a classroom discussion about respectful and acceptable language and behaviours.

• PREVnet: Canada’s bullying prevention research and resource site
• What parents need to know: A PREVnet bullying primer for parents
• Students can report bullying to a trusted adult using the erase Report It tool: erase for Students - Province of British Columbia
• HealthLink BC: Bullying
• Government of B.C.: Bullying
• Bullying - Kids Help Phone