WEYBURN - February 22 was Pink Shirt Day.
This annual observance was created to remind us that many children, youth and adults face bullying on a regular basis.
One of the most common types of bullying is cyberbullying.
Cyberbullying is using online and mobile technology to harm other people, in a deliberate, repeated and hostile manner.
Two-thirds of youth have faced bullying over their cell phones or online. Three out of ten bullied students reported missing school at least once during the year because of cyberbullying. Unreported bullying would bring these numbers much higher.
The use of a computer or smart device allows bullies to hide behind the screen, but the effects of cyberbullying can be catastrophic, as the victim often suffers character assassination, public shaming, and as a result, mental health issues.
The Red Cross suggested these four steps to stop cyberbullying.
STOP: Don’t try to reason with or talk to someone who is cyberbullying you.
BLOCK: Use the block sender technology to prevent the person from contacting you again.
TALK: Tell a trusted adult, inform your school, use a help line and/or report it to police.
SAVE: Save any instant messages or emails you receive from the person bullying you, or capture any comments or images that have been posted online.
You are not alone. Ask for help. Talk about it with someone you trust and try to find a healthy way to change what is happening or how you react to it. Call a help line – reaching out to a counsellor in an anonymous way can help make talking about it easier. (KidsHelpPhone 1-800-668-6868 kidshelpphone.ca)
Information provided by redcross.ca/respecteducation Preventing Bullying
