In 2007, a boy in grade 9 was bullied at school for wearing a pink shirt. In response to this, David Shepherd and Travis Price, two of his school peers, began a protest by handing out pink shirts to the boys in their school. This kind and supportive act sparked Pink Shirt day, which is now an anti-bullying campaign that grown to global participation.
How common is bullying? According to a recent study, 70% of middle and high school students experienced traditional in-person bullying and 22% of middle and high school students experienced cyberbullying. Bullying is linked to several mental health outcomes, such as depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicidality, eating disorders, low self-esteem, and post-traumatic stress. Children who have experienced bullying have reported feelings of shame, anger, distrust, lack of safety, and interpersonal difficulties.
What can we do to prevent bullying? Wear a pink shirt! Raising awareness is an important step in reducing bullying. By outwardly showing that you are standing up against bullying, you are telling both victims and bullies that you do not accept bullying and you will not stand by and let it happen.
This year’s theme for Pink Shirt day is #LifeEachOtherUp. Another important way to reduce bullying is to model healthy relationships and ways of interacting with others. Be kind! Use your power in society to life others up and help them see all they have to offer the world.
How can you support someone who is experiencing bullying? LOVE.
- Listen: Let them share what they have been experiencing without any judgement, criticism, or solutions. Just let them speak and share their experience with you in a safe and loving environment.
- Offer support: Ask them what they need from you. Youth often do not share their experiencing with bullying for fear that their parents will embarrass them and make things worse. Inform them about the possible options of how to handle bullying, such as ignoring the bully, standing up for themselves, telling the principal, or going to the police. Help them choose which action is best for them.
- Validate their feelings: Help them understand that it is normal to feel angry, sad, ashamed, and scared when they experience bullying. Validate their feelings and help them understand they are not alone.
- Explore resources together: Work with your child or friend to explore resources on bullying and cyberbullying. This can help both of you make an informed decision together and further discuss what they are experiencing.
References:
Hinduja, S., & Patchin, J. W. (2017). Cultivating youth resilience to prevent bullying and cyberbullying victimization. Child Abuse & Neglect, 73, 51-62. doi: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2017.09.010
Pink Shirt Day. (2019). About us. Retrieved from: https://www.pinkshirtday.ca/about
Public Safety Canada. (2015). Info sheet: Cyberbullying. Retrieved from: https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca
Schoeler, T., Duncan, L., Ploubidis, G. B., Cecil, C. M., & Pingault, J.-B. (2018). Quasi-experimental evidence on short- and long-term consequences of bullying victimization: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 144, 1229–1246. doi: 10.1037/bul0000171
Images
Ketchum, R. (n.d.). Love. Pexels. https://www.pexels.com/photo/woman-in-black-and-multicolored-love-print-hoodie-2306823/.