PINK SHIRT DAY was inspired by an act of kindness in 2007. Two teens, along with several friends, organized a Pink Protest at their school in a small town in Nova Scotia after hearing that a new grade 9 boy was bullied for wearing a pink shirt. Fifty pink tank tops were purchased at a local discount store and distributed in the foyer of the school the following day. When the boy who had been bullied walked into the foyer his expression showed relief. His new school peers supported him and the bullying behaviour ended. Consider wearing something pink on Wed Feb 22, 2023, and more importantly, stand up to bullying every day of the year
Over 1,100,000 Canadian school-aged kids experience bullying at least once every
A bullying incident can occur anywhere children or teens gather and often involves more than two people. The person who is using bullying behaviour, the person being bullied and more often than not, at least one person, or people, who see the incident happen. Otherwise known as the bystander or bystander. Those who don’t stand up and say something against the bullying behaviour are providing a captive audience, giving the person who is using bullying behaviour attention and social status which only reinforces the behaviour making it more likely to occur again.
As a bystander, you have power! Research shows that when peers intervene, the bullying behaviour stops within 10 seconds. Call out bullying behaviour when you see it happening. When more than one peer intervenes, the power imbalance shifts. If you do not feel comfortable or safe standing up to the person who is bullying someone, then report the incident to a trusted adult. An aggressive response is not recommended. Research has shown that an aggressive reaction most often leads to pro- longed and more severe bullying interactions.
If you are experiencing bullying, know that you deserve to be treated with respect and to feel safe. Being bullied is not your fault.
Keep your cool and walk away. Tell a trusted adult what occurred. It may need to be reported to more than one responsible adult before effective intervention ends the bullying behaviour.
Get support from friends and speak out against bullying. Don’t believe that this is how your life will continue to be. Someone has singled you out in this situation but that doesn’t mean it will always happen to you.
Cope with your feelings of anger and sadness in healthy ways. Through sports, music, reading, or talking it out with someone you trust Focus on things that make you feel confident and proud.
Stand up for Friends Online
Write down or save what you see online and
when you saw it.
Don’t encourage or participate in bullying behaviour by
liking or sharing hurtful comments
If you know the sender, let them know that cyber-bullying
is not okay with you
Reach out to the person who received hurtful comments
to let them know that they don’t deserve to be bullied
Cyber Bullying - Ways to Make it Stop
Don’t try to reason or talk with the person bullying you. Block the
sender.
Talk to a trusted adult, inform your school, and contact a helpline or
police if physical threats are involved or you think a crime has
been committed
Save any instant messages or emails or capture any images or
comments posted online.
For more advice contact KidsHelpPhone 1-800-668-6868 or email kidshelpphone.ca
