24-hour help
Call 911 if you or someone you know is in immediate danger.
Bullying Helpline – Call 310-1818 or text 310-1818 or chat online for support, information or referrals.
What you can do
- Learn to recognize bullying and know the warning signs.
- Respond to bullying situations by:
- telling the person assertively to stop the bullying
- going and getting help
- supporting the person targeted after the situation is over, and
- letting them know they do not deserve that treatment and it is not their fault
- Be supportive when someone tells you about a bullying experience.
- Role model healthy relationships by:
- listening and showing empathy, kindness, honesty and respect
- being helpful and cooperative
- showing ways to work through complex social situations
- helping others understand the benefits of strong social supports
- Get involved in Bullying Awareness Week and other bullying prevention activities throughout the year.
- Share resources about bullying through social media and in your community to build awareness and understanding.
- Help develop and support bullying prevention policies and practices in your workplace, social, sports and community organizations.
What schools can do
- Develop and implement a school-wide plan for bullying prevention and building healthy relationships by involving teachers, volunteers, parents, caregivers, and most importantly, students.
- Foster the development of healthy relationships, healthy communication skills, conflict resolution skills and intervention skills.
- Ensure staff and volunteers work together to respond consistently to bullying situations and show leadership by modelling healthy interactions with others.
- Support students in setting up a gay-straight alliance (GSA) or queer-straight alliance (QSA).
- Support Pink Shirt Day and other events promoting healthy relationships.
What employers can do
- Establish policies clearly defining bullying and harassment, the organization’s response and the resources that are available.
- Support employees who may be dealing with bullying at work or in other settings.
- Share information with all employees at meetings, online or through print resources.
- Display prevention and support information in areas where your customers or clients can see it or take it with them.
- Work with community organizations to provide funding for programs and services to help people who have been bullied.
- Sponsor an event to raise awareness during Bullying Awareness Week.
- Support Pink Shirt Day and other events promoting healthy relationships.
What people in sports can do
Coaches and volunteers
- Hold a pre-season meeting with other coaches, volunteers, parents, athletes and board members to discuss acceptable behaviour and bullying prevention strategies.
- Understand that you are a role model to players and set a good example.
- Promote healthy relationships by encouraging empathy, kindness, honesty and respect.
- Respond to bullying situations immediately and consistently.
- Establish open and honest communication between parents, players, managers and volunteers.
- Look at your behaviour and accept feedback without being defensive. Change your behaviour, if needed.
- Think of screening procedures, policy and training as opportunities to learn and create a safer and healthier sporting environment for everyone.
- Get certified to coach sports through a national or provincial governing body.
- Become an active member of a provincial sport governing body with a code of ethics and harassment policy.
Parents and adults
- Understand that you are a role model and set a good example.
- Maintain open and honest communication with your child and the coach.
- Make sure to participate in the pre-season meeting to discuss acceptable behaviours and bullying prevention strategies.
- Ask whether the coach is certified and belongs to a provincial sport governing body with a code of ethics and harassment policy. If not, work with the coach, other parents and board members to have the coach certified.
- Attend practices and games whenever possible. If private practices are scheduled, ask why they are needed.
- If you see bullying during a game, tell the coach or the officials.
- When bullying happens during practice or before or after games, discuss the situation with the coach, volunteers and other parents to reach a solution.
Players
- Take part in the pre-season meeting to discuss acceptable behaviours and bullying prevention strategies.
- Understand that you are a role model to other players and set a good example.
- Tell a coach, parent or someone you trust if you, or someone on your team, is being bullied.
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