Bullying
Bullying is a severe and pervasive issue that can affect people of all ages, from childhood into adulthood. It is defined as repeated and intentional behaviour that aims to cause harm, distress, or humiliation to another person. This can be physical, verbal, social, or online (cyberbullying).
Bullying is not a regular part of growing up, and its long-lasting effects on a person's physical and mental health, well-being, relationships, and future can be severe. In some cases, bullying behaviors can even be considered criminal offences under Canadian law, such as criminal harassment, uttering threats, and extortion.
| Types of Bullying | Description |
| Verbal | Saying or writing mean things, like name-calling, teasing, or spreading rumours. |
| Social | Actions that hurt someone's reputation or relationships, such as purposely excluding them or making them a target of gossip. |
| Physical | Intentionally harming someone's body or property, like hitting, tripping, or destroying their belongings. |
| Cyberbullying | Using digital technology to bully, including sending mean messages, posting embarrassing photos, or creating fake online profiles to harass someone. |
Resources and Supports Available
Bullying can significantly impact a person's mental and physical health. It is crucial to have access to support systems to help cope with the effects of the condition.
Prince Edward Island Resources - Health PEI Mental Health and Wellness Services
Health PEI's mental health services are a key resource for individuals of all ages who are experiencing distress, including that caused by bullying.
- Mental Health and Addictions Phone Line: A primary point of contact for anyone in a crisis. You can call this number 24/7 to speak with a trained professional (a registered nurse or social worker) who can provide support, problem-solving, and connections to ongoing care. Phone: 1-833-553-6983
- Community Mental Health Services: Health PEI offers a wide range of mental health programs for children, youth, and adults. These services can include one-on-one counselling and group sessions to address issues like anxiety and depression that are often linked to bullying.
- How to access: Adults can self-refer by calling a local Community Mental Health and Addictions office. Parents of children can also call to get information on services for those under 18. Individuals under the age of 18 can access services directly from the Mental Health and Addictions Phone Line.
- Open Access Counselling: For immediate, in-person support, Health PEI operates mental health walk-in clinics. No appointment is needed, and they can assist with a variety of issues, including anxiety, depression, and other concerns.
- INSIGHT Program for Youth: This is a specialized mental health day treatment program for youth aged 13-18. A team of health and education professionals works with youth, their families, and their schools to reduce the impact of mental health problems on their daily lives.
- How to access: A referral is required by a Community Mental Health Clinician or health professional.
Other Local Resources
- The Island Helpline: Call 1-800-218-2885 for emotional support, crisis intervention, or help with problem-solving. This is a crucial local resource for anyone needing to talk.
- Bridge the gapp: This is an online mental health resource specifically for residents of PEI. It offers a directory of programs and services, along with resources designed to support mental health and wellness. This platform is an excellent starting point for finding information and support that is relevant to Islanders.
- Student Well-Being Teams: In collaboration with the Department of Education and Early Years, Health PEI has student well-being teams that work within PEI schools. These teams consist of professionals who advise, consult, and provide services to children and youth struggling with mental, social, and physical health issues. They are a direct resource for students to receive help right in their school environment.
- Cybersafe Care: A project of the Interministerial Women’s Secretariat. The Cybersafe Care website includes information on gaming, social media, cyberbullying, as well as recommended resources for help. It is designed to be a supportive information resource for parents, caregivers, and educators. The goal is to provide reliable information (including PEI specific info) to caregivers in their journey to keep youth cybersafe and cybersmart.
- Cyberbullying project: As part of Community Legal Information’s Cyberbullying Project, they created two informative workshops to help Island residents identify, respond to, and prevent cyberbullying. One is for youth, and the other is for parents and caregivers.
- Our Landing Place: Offering fully funded mental health services to PEI’s LGBTQ2IA+ community members. This is a self-referral program.
National Resources
- Kids Help Phone: This is a vital resource for young people across Canada, offering free, confidential, 24/7 e-mental health services. You can contact a professional counsellor by calling 1-800-668-6868 or texting CONNECT to 686868. Their services are available in multiple languages.
- Mental Health Commission of Canada: The MHCC provides resources and tools aimed at improving mental health and wellness for all Canadians, including programs that address bullying prevention.10
- PREVNet (Promoting Relationships and Eliminating Violence Network): Canada's leading authority on bullying prevention, PREVNet offers evidence-based resources for children, youth, parents, and educators.
- 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call 9-8-8 if you are dealing with thoughts of suicide or if you are worried about someone else. A trained responder will listen without judgement and provide support and resources that can help.
- Protectkidsonline.ca: Operated by the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, ProtectKidsOnline.ca is designed to assist parents/guardians in protecting their children on the Internet and reducing their risk of victimization. Information is regularly gleaned from Cybertip.ca to create current, developmentally appropriate prevention material.
- BullyingCanada: Through a wrap-around mental health service, Bullying Canada’s trained support volunteers and professional counsellors work one-on-one with bullied Canadian youth, their parents and local supports for as long as it takes to bring an end to the bullying and help them heal.
Reporting
If you or someone you know is being bullied, reporting the behaviour is a critical step. It not only helps stop harm and access support but also contributes to creating safer environments for everyone. Reporting can be difficult, so it is important to know your options and where to access help. The following resources can help ensure safety and seek justice.
How to Report Bullying
- In Schools: Report incidents to a teacher, principal, school counsellor, or any trusted adult. Many schools have specific codes of conduct and policies in place to prevent bullying.
Both school authorities in PEI have an online non-emergent reporting system for students, parents and guardians to report incidents that occurred in school. Individuals have the option to report anonymously:
Public School Branch: Report It
La Commission scolaire de langue francaise: Signalez-le
- Online Platforms: Report cyberbullying to the social media site or app where the incident occurred. Most platforms have clear reporting mechanisms to address harassment.
- Criminal Offences: If the bullying involves threats, harassment, or other criminal acts, you should report it to your local police. In an emergency, always call 9-1-1.
- Anonymously: In some cases, you can report a crime anonymously to Crime Stoppers. The number in Canada is 1-800-222-TIPS.