November 11 to 15 marks the 2024 Canadian Anti-Bullying Week; a time dedicated to raising awareness about bullying with the goal of making it a thing of the past. Bullying can occur online, in schoolyards, and doesn’t stop when kids enter high school—it can even be seen in the workplace.
In the age of technology, bullying has become easier and more harmful, whether through text messages, social media or physical acts. In recent years, we as a society have made huge strides in combatting bullying with initiatives like Pink Shirt Day and other anti-bullying campaigns. That being said, we still have a long way to go. As with many things, the more we educate ourselves, the better equipped we are to address these challenges.
So, what is bullying? Bullying is when someone makes another person feel small, powerless or as if a dark cloud is hanging over them. It can involve making fun of someone’s race, religion, or living circumstances. Bullying can also include any kind of physical behaviour that causes harm to another person. Bullying can come in many different forms, let's take a moment to explore them so we can educate ourselves and stop it from happening.
Physical bullying: This can include actions like hitting, pushing, or shoving.
Verbal: This form includes name calling, spreading rumours, or saying nasty things that make someone feel bad about themselves.
Social: This form includes mobbing, excluding someone from a group, or intentionally ignoring or isolating a person.
Cyber bullying: This comes in the form of using social media or text messages to intimidate, harass or embarrass someone.
No matter what the form of bullying, it has the potential to leave deep rooted scars and effects on its victims. The effects of bullying can be serious and long-lasting, impacting mental, emotional and even physical health. Victims of bullying often experience anxiety, depression and lowered self-esteem, which can interfere with their school or professional performance and personal relationships. Bullying can create feelings of isolation, as those affected may withdraw from activities or people they once enjoyed. Long-term effects can also include increased risk of mental health challenges, such as PTSD, self harm, suicide and can alter how a person views themselves and others.
For children and teens, bullying affects their ability to trust, communicate and form healthy relationships. Even when bullying stops, emotional scars often remain, making it so important to raise awareness and support those affected by it. I can still remember my bully in elementary school and the way they made me feel, I can also remember the kids that stood around and did nothing.
Whether you are being bullied or witnessing someone else being bullied, the best thing you can do is speak up! It takes courage, but by calling out bullying directly or letting a trusted person know—whether it’s a teacher, parent, boss, or coworker—you send a strong and loud message that everyone deserves to feel safe and valued. Speaking up is so important in the fight to end bullying, showing others they are not alone and that they don’t have to be afraid to speak out. Bullying is never OK, so let’s take a stand together and help create a more positive world for everyone to enjoy.
Remember to be kind to yourself, practice self-care and reach out for help if you need it.
For more information regarding bullying you can visit https://www.bullyingcanada.ca/ If you need support, you can: • Contact CMHA South Cariboo for mental health support at 250-395-4883. The office is open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. • Call the Emergency Crisis Line 24 hours a day at 1-888-353-2273. • Call the Suicide Crisis Line at 9-8-8. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
