Adults Bully at Sporting Events (Focus Newspaper 12/06/2006 in .pdf format)

BULLYING – MORE THAN AN ISSUE FOR SCHOOLS (Focus Newspaper 12/06/2005)

National Bullying Awareness Week (AMDSB Press Release in .pdf format)

Website Launch (Media Release 11/01/2005 in .pdf format)

December 6, 2005
BULLYING – MORE THAN AN ISSUE FOR SCHOOLS

Huron County – By now, most of us are well aware of the serious issue of bullying. There certainly are no shortages of headlines that pull our attention to the serious impact that bullying is having on our children, youth, schools, and ultimately our communities.

Most likely, each of us has been a part of bullying at one time or another, and can remember the negative feelings associated with being the bully, the victim or a bystander. Typically we don’t relate bullying to an impact on our health. However, there are many negative health effects such as distress, anxiety, sleep disturbance, a sense of isolation, depression, loss of self-esteem and self confidence which can affect our
school performance, interactions with family and friends, as well as our physical well being. Bullying can have long term consequences on both our physical and mental health well into adulthood and may lead to depression, substance abuse, anxiety, and other stress related health problems.The common perception that bullying is a school problem and that teachers should handle it ignores the many complex contributing factors. In fact “bullying is a much broader social problem that often happens outside of schools, at home, on the street, at shopping centres, the local pool, summer camp, and in the adult workplace”. As adults we need to take responsibility for learning about the issue, and appropriate ways to intervene. We could begin by taking a serious look at our own behaviour and recognizing that we are the role models for our children and youth.

Learning about bullying is the first step to tackling the issue. In Huron County, a number of organizations and individuals have come together to develop a coordinated approach to address bullying locally. The Huron County Health Unit, Avon Maitland District School Board, Huron-Perth Catholic District School Board, as well as many service providers and interested citizens have come together to form the Huron County Bullying
Prevention Committee. As part of their initial work, the Committee has defined bullying as:
· Conscious, deliberate, repeated unwelcome actions intended to harm or distress
· Relational in nature and it can take physical, verbal, social or electronic forms
· Based on a real or perceived imbalance of power used to control
· Bullying can be experienced by anyone at any age

Halting the cycle of violence really must start with all of us. Addressing bullying must be considered a community priority and not left on the backs of our schools. There is an obvious urgency for change, and as a community it is essential that we work together sharing our experiences, talents, and resources to tackle the issue. We can begin by recognizing that we all have a role to play. What can you do? Consider developing a violence prevention policy for your sports team or employer, volunteer for your parent council at your child’s school, join the Huron County Bullying Prevention Committee, speak out against violence in your community, and most importantly be a role model for our children; “don’t be a bully.”

If you suspect that your child or teen is being bullied, be there for them, listen and let them know it is not their fault and give them love and support. If you need assistance please call the Parent Helpline at 1-888-603-9100 or direct children and youth to the Kids Helpline at 1-800-668-6868 or visit your new local website for information for parents and anyone concerned with the issues related to bullying: www.bullyprevention.ca.

For more information on how to get involved in bullying prevention, contact
Bonnie Baynham, Community Developer, at the Huron County Health Unit
by calling 482-3416 ext. 2314 or, if long distance, dial 1-877-837-6143.

“Creating Healthy Communities Together”