Youth Bullying

Bullying is defined as any unwelcome written or verbal expression, physical acts or gestures directed at someone with the intent to intimidate, frighten, ridicule, humiliate or cause physical or emotional harm to that person. It involves an observed or perceived power imbalance. According to Canadian government reports, Canada has the 9th highest rate of bullying in the 13-years-olds category on a scale of 35 countries. At least 1 in 3 adolescent students in Canada have reported being bullied. In addition, 47% of Canadian parents report having a child victim of bullying. Compared to children who do not report involvement in bullying problems: Children who are bullied suffer more headaches, stomach aches, depression and anxiety. Mental health problems associated with bullying tend to last until later in life. Children who bully, and those who are bullied, are at greater risk of suicide. Children who bully, and those who are bullied, will be more likely to miss school, show little interest in their studies and suffer poor grades. Children who bully are more likely to use drugs and alcohol and engage in criminal activity. Bullying is a peer relationship problem. It is essential to identify and help children early - both those who bully others and those who are at risk of being bullied - in order to support the development of healthy relationships. Mike Neuts, the presenter in this video, is a parent whose son was a victim of bullying at school. He shares his experience and explains the importance of building positive relationships with and amongst youth. Mike Neuts emphasizes the importance of caring for children and he shows the need for everyone to make a difference with children at home, in school and in their community. He encourages creating a “MORE PEACEFUL WORLD” through empathy and thought which builds cooperation and acceptance. He shares some useful resources for call responders and others who work to support youth and their families in this area of bullying. Questions for Further Consideration: 1. A parent may be seeking some consolation after they find out or witnessed their own child being a bully. How can a call responder provide support in this instance? It is important to listen carefully and show concern regarding this issue. Research indicates that without intervention, a significant number of youth who bully in childhood will continue to bully as they move through adolescence and into adulthood. As children mature, the nature of bullying changes. From early adolescence, new forms of aggression emerge. With developing thinking and social skills, children become aware of others’ vulnerabilities and of their own power relative to others. Bullying can then diversify into more sophisticated forms of verbal, social, homophobic, and sexually and racially based aggression. Early identification and intervention of bullying will prevent patterns of aggressive interactions from forming. Adults need to be aware that bullying changes with age and may become more difficult to detect. Parents are right to be concerned about their child and any bullying behaviour and should be encouraged to follow-up further and get support and assistance with the concern. In the instance of youth bullying, should a child be encouraged to ‘fight their own battles’ and learn how to deal with the situation on their own? Encouraging children who are victimized to fight back can make the bullying interaction worse. Canadian research conducted by PrevNet shows that when children use aggressive strategies to manage bullying situations, they tend to experience prolonged and more severe bullying interactions as a result.Children should be encouraged to be assertive, not aggressive, and to tell a trusted adult about what has happened to them. To be assertive means that the child who feels bullied sends the message that the bullying behaviour is not OK and that he or she will report it to a responsible adult if it doesn't stop. An assertive message is clear and respectful. It does not put down or insult the person who is bullying. Coaching and role playing can help children learn assertive responses. Parents and educators can play an important role in assisting youth in this area. Is bullying behaviour in our society affecting the mental health of our youth? According to research published by the Public Health Agency of Canada, bullying is an early marker for significant mental health problems throughout the lifespan. Evidence shows that children involved in fighting, bullying others, being bullied, or both, are reporting higher levels of emotional and behavioural problems and lower levels of emotional well‑being. Bullying at age 14 predicts violent convictions at age 15 to 20, violence at age 15 to 18, low job status at age 18, drug use at age 27 to 32, and an unsuccessful life at age 48 (Farrington &Ttofi, 2011). Bullying, violence, mental and physical health problems, substance abuse, school drop-out, and unemployment are all outcomes rooted in experiences within violent relationships (Centers for Disease Control, 2010). Poor social relationships are as big a contributor to early death as smoking, drinking, and obesity (Holt-Lunstead et al., 2010). By preventing violence and promoting relationships, we can optimize children's physical and mental health. Glossary: Youth Bullying: any unwelcome written or verbal expression, physical acts or gestures directed to a student or other young member of the school community with the intent to intimidate, frighten, ridicule, humiliate or cause physical or emotional harm to that person. Bullying may include, but shall not be limited to, repetitive taunting, threats of harm, verbal or physical intimidation, cyber-bullying, pushing, kicking, hitting, spitting, or taking or damaging another person’s personal property.