1. School Health
  2. Youth Relationship Violence & Bullying
  3. Bullying

Bullying

Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week in Ontario is November 15-21, 2026 
Download these resources to support Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week at your school.

Bullying and cyberbullying can affect a student’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being for a lifetime. People of all ages must understand what bullying is, how it can hurt someone, and how it affects others. 

Read on to learn how students, school staff and parents can promote safe schools and a positive learning environment.

What are the four types of Bullying?

  • Physical bullying includes hitting, slapping, tripping, shoving, pinching/poking, chasing, unwanted sexual touching, coercion, and stealing or wrecking belongings.
  • Verbal bullying includes name-calling, spreading rumours, threats, mocking, insults, negative comments based on race, ethnicity, culture, religion, gender, or sexual orientation, and unwanted sexual comments.
  • Social/emotional bullying includes excluding others from groups, scapegoating, shunning, ignoring, and humiliation in front of others or publicly.
  • Electronic/cyberbullying includes using technology (i.e., cellphones, computers, social media, email, etc.) to spread rumors or hurtful comments.         
    (Ontario Ministry of Education, 2021).

Why is Bullying prevention at school important? 

Over 1 in 4 Ontario students (27%) report being bullied at school (OSDUHS 2025). In Windsor-Essex, 19% of students report being bullied by other students in the last month, and this number has grown significantly over the last decade (COMPASS, 2025-26).

How do we stop bullying? 

Raising awareness around bullying with students can help promote a welcoming environment where students feel safe and can learn to the best of their ability. It is also important for teachers to support both the student being bullied as well as the student doing the bullying.

To prevent bullying, it is important to ensure that students have healthy, safe, respectful, and caring relationships with others by teaching students:

  • how to recognize and manage their emotions,
  • how to make responsible decisions and behave responsibly,
  • how to develop healthy relationships (Prevnet, 2025)

Below you will find several informational and community resources for educators, parents/caregivers, and students. Educator resources are organized using the Ministry of Education’s Foundations for a Healthy School framework. A healthy school is created when schools, parents and community partners work together to build school environments that promote and support student well-being.

Resources & Information for:

Resources

  • Bullying Awareness Backgrounder– The WECHU
    An overview of bullying that provides educators with the information they need to prepare for a whole-school campaign on bullying. Also available in French.

  • Bullying for Educators - PREVnet
    This page describes educators’ roles in taking bullying seriously, acting when appropriate, and encouraging healthy relationship skills. Also includes fact sheets and training opportunities. Available in French.

  • Healthy Relationships - OPHEA - Grades 1-12
    Numerous links to support healthy relationships and relationship challenges for educators (access requires a subscription). Available in French. 

  • Bullying and Cyberbullying - RCMP - Grades 4-12
    Lesson plans with engaging activities, prevention programs for Grades K-6, and more. Available in French.

  • Cyberbullying Lesson Plans – Media Smarts.ca - Grades 1-12
    Lesson plans to raise student awareness of cyber bullying as an unacceptable behaviour. Activities for all grade levels. Available in French.

  • My Voice is Louder than Hate - Media Smarts.ca - Grades 9-12
    A multimedia lesson resource designed to empower students to push back against hate and prejudice in their online communities; available in French.

  • Safe @ School - OTF & COPA
    Bullying prevention resources for educators. 

Bullying Awareness Videos 

School Campaigns and Social Media

  • Student council or student wellness groups can participate in identifying school needs and encourage activities that address those needs.

  • Students can make public service announcements/videos as part of their classwork for morning announcements, bulletin boards, classrooms, and social media.

  • Students can organize school awareness day events
  • Social Media Images - The WECHU
    Anti-bullying Images to use on school social media or in newsletters.

Support in the Community

  • BullyingCanada.ca - Bullying Helpline - Call or text 1-877-352-4497 (24/7)
    A 24/7/365 support line and helpful resources such as school/workplace workshops on bullying and a scholarship program.
  • Kids Help Phone – Text 686868, call 1-800-668-6868 or chat online (24/7)
    Get confidential support for kids, teens and young adults from a professional counsellor and find additional resources for bullying, online safety and mental health. Available in French.

Additional Resources

  • Bullying - we can all help stop it - Ontario Ministry of Education 
    Signs a child is being bullied, what to do if your child is being bullied or is bullying others, the role of schools and schoolboards in bullying prevention.
  • What Parents Need to Know - PREVnet Information that is divided by age and covers risks, parent’s role, talking to the school and cyberbullying.
  • Online Safety Resources - Cybertip.ca
    Support for parents to support keeping kids safe while they are online. Available in French

School Campaigns and Social Media

  • Student council or student wellness groups can participate in identifying school needs and encourage activities that address those needs.

  • Students can make public service announcements/videos as part of their classwork for morning announcements, bulletin boards, classrooms, and social media.

  • Students can organize school awareness day events
  • Social Media Images - The WECHU
    Anti-bullying Images to use on school social media or in newsletters.

  • BullyingCanada.ca - Bullying Helpline  - Call or text 1-877-352-4497 (24/7)
  • Kids Help Phone – Text 686868, call 1-800-668-6868 or chat online (24/7)
    Get confidential support for kids, teens and young adults from a professional counsellor and find additional resources for bullying, online safety and mental health. Available in French.

Additional Resources