Bullying continues to be a serious problem in Canada.
Students across the country have started getting back into their routines, spending their days with friends and classmates.
But unfortunately, a lot of youth also find themselves spending time with bullies and aggressors.
Oct. 17 to 23 is National School Safety Week and this year, the Canada Safety Council’s (CSC) message is simple: there can be no tolerance for bullying.
Students, educators, parents and caregivers all have a duty to keep children safe, CSC officials say.
According to the Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence Network (PrevNet), a network of researchers and organizations shedding a light on bullying prevention, 75 per cent of people say they have been affected by bullying.
This can take shape either as a victim, a bystander or an aggressor, and includes three primary forms of bullying physical, verbal and social bullying.
Additionally, the role that technology plays in day-to-day life has contributed to the rise of cyber-bullying.
PrevNet reports that one in five teenagers report being victimized electronically, a number that continues to rise.
Experts say parents should be on the lookout for the following signs: heightened anxiety, low self-esteem and excessive self-deprecation, low performance in school, visible injuries, irritability, unhappiness, withdrawal from activities they once enjoyed, isolation and fear of going to school.
Conversely, look for signs that a child may be a bully, including: aggression, manipulative behavior, unexplained money or items and a minimal concern for others’ feelings.
“Your role in the bullying discussion is simple, yet crucial, and begins long before your child is put in a situation where bullying may arise,” CSC officials say.
“Open a conversation with your child and make it clear that bullying is not acceptable and will not be tolerated. Let them know you will always be prepared to listen and be their advocate.”
If a child confesses to being bullied, keep text messages, emails and any other examples that demonstrate the inappropriate behavior and report it to the proper authorities – either school administrators or police, depending on the severity.
Parents should monitor progress and be vigilant in follow-up to ensure the behavior stops.
“Bullying can escalate quickly and your intervention can make a difference in your child’s quality of life, both in the short- and long-term,” officials say.
