Bullying - Youth

Bullying affects mental health, relationships, sense of safety, and the ability to learn and to join in school activities. It impacts everyone including the bullied, the bully and any who witnesses the bullying.

Bullying can happen to anyone. It is targeted and repeated. It is mean, cruel and hurtful behaviour which involves power and can include teasing, conflict, aggression, intimidation and shame.

There are many types of bullying, such as:

• Physical bullying
• Emotional and social bullying
• Cyberbullying

Parents, caregivers and youth are encouraged to reach out for help, please check out the mental health, addictions and substance use health services website.

Every adult has a role to play in making our homes and communities supportive and welcoming places. Adults can help to prevent and stop bullying by supporting youth to learn about healthy relationships, such as:

• How to listen to others.
• Having empathy for one another.
• Being a kind friend.
• Being respectful and including others.
• Learning to cope and solve problems with their peers.

Parents, caregivers and youth are encouraged to reach out for help, please check out the mental health, addictions and substance use health services website.

Youth who are bullied often feel afraid, ashamed, and alone. They may find it hard to talk and to ask for help. Look for signs of bullying, such as:

• Fear of school, skipping school
• Poorer performance at school
• Lost or damaged belongings
• Unexplained bruises or cuts
• Physical symptoms like stomach pains or headaches
• Trouble sleeping, nightmares
• Changes in eating
• Loss of interest in things they enjoyed
• Withdrawn or bullying others
• Depressed, anxious or uncertain about themselves
• Self-harm
• Thinking or talking about suicide

Youth who bully others may be struggling with challenging feelings such as anger and sadness. They may be facing challenges in their lives or have been bullied themselves. Youth who bully may have mental health challenges, difficulty developing healthy relationships and struggle in school. Some signs of a youth may be bullying other children include:

• Easily angry and frustrated.
• Unexplained objects or money.
• Bullying siblings at home.
• Keeping secrets.
• Injuries, like cuts and bruises

Parents, caregivers and youth are encouraged to reach out for help, please check out the mental health, addictions and substance use health services website.

Youth need parents, caregivers, educators and community leaders they trust to talk to and support them through this challenging time. Here are some ideas:

• Listen and accept their feelings.
  • Let them know you care, and they are not to blame.
  • Let them know things can change and help them find help.
  • Teach them how:
    • To stay safe, such as turning off social media.
    • Save evidence such as texts, emails and posts.
    • To speak out and report bullying to a trusted adult.
    • To stay calm and walk away from the bullying.
    • To ask for help and support from family and friends.
    • Seek professional help if required.

Parents, caregivers and youth are encouraged to reach out for help, please check out the mental health, addictions and substance use health services website.

Youth who bully others may be facing challenges in their lives, such as being bullied themselves. It is important to listen and talk with them about their feelings and thoughts, and to focus on the behaviour. Adults can help them to learn how to develop healthy relationships, such as having empathy for their peers and finding positive ways to solve challenges in relationships.

Parents, caregivers and youth are encouraged to reach out for help, please check out the mental health, addictions and substance use health services website.

Youth who witness bullying are affected by what they see and hear, in person or online. They may feel helpless, afraid or worried. Teach them how to:

• Stay safe.
• Report bullying to a trusted adult.
• Take care of their mental health and to find support from family and friends.

Parents, caregivers and youth are encouraged to reach out for help, please check out the mental health, addictions and substance use health services website

Ontario schools have programs to help children develop healthy relationships with their peers. They also have plans to help report bullying and what actions to take. To learn about the role of schools, check out Bullying: we can all help to stop it.

• Talk to someone at the school your youth trusts such as a teacher, guidance counselor, principal or vice-principal.
• Write down the facts of the bullying, including text and email messages.
• Share your concerns and ask for a meeting.
• Learn about your school’s bullying policies and resources.
• Work with the school and your youth to create a safety plan. A safety plan will help:
  • Identify who will check-in with your youth and when.
  • Identify safe places.
  • Identify safe people and support networks.
  • Explore other supports and resources.
  • Monitor the media your child consumes (TV, video games, online).
• If the bullying does not stop, follow-up with the school to check all the agreed steps of the safety plan are being followed.
• Call 911 if there is an immediate safety concern.

Parents, caregivers and youth are encouraged to reach out for help, please check out the mental health, addictions and substance use health services website.

If anyone is in crisis, please contact:

• Kids Help Phone (24 hours a day/7 days a week) at 1-800-668-6868
• Youth Services Bureau (24 hours a day/7 days a week) at 613-260-2360

For additional mental health support and resources for parents and caregivers, children and youth.

For more resources available in Ottawa, please visit our Mental Health, Addictions and Substance Use Health Services and Resources web page.

• PREVNet
• Kids Help Phone
• Government of Ontario: Bullying – we can all help stop it
• Media Smart
• ProtectKidsOnline