1. School Health
  2. Bullying

Bullying

Bullying and cyberbullying can affect a student’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Students of all ages must understand what bullying is, how it can hurt someone, and what the consequences can be.

Bullying prevention is more than just eliminating bullying – it should also promote healthy relationships, empathy, and understanding of emotions.

Raising awareness around bullying with your students can help promote a welcoming environment where students feel safe and can learn to the best of their ability.

There are four types of bullying:

  • Physical bullying includes hitting, slapping, tripping, shoving, pinching/poking, chasing, unwanted sexual touching, coercion, and stealing or destroying belongings.
  • Verbal bullying includes name-calling, rumor-spreading, threats, mocking, insults, negative references 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 via public gestures or graffiti.
  • Electronic/cyberbullying includes using technology (i.e., cellphones, computers, social media, email, etc.) to spread rumors or hurtful comments (Ontario Ministry of Education, 2018).

"Over 1 in 5 Ontario students (23%) reported being bullied at school, representing about 222,400 Ontario students according to the 2019 OSDUHS study from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).’"

Another local study found similar results; 20% of students were bullied by other students in the last month. This is an 11% rise from last year and a 2% rise from the first year (2012-13) the survey was completed (COMPASS, 2022).

Bullying prevention promotes the development of healthy relationships that involve respectful interactions between people, face-to-face and online. The goal is to help ensure that all students have healthy, safe, respectful, and caring relationships with everyone in their lives. Supports and interventions should be provided to both the victims and the bully to address the problem of violence and bullying in schools (Hemphill, Tollit & Herrenkohl, 2014).

Using the Ministry of Education’s Foundations for a Healthy School framework, schools, school boards, parents, and community partners can work together to develop healthy school environments that promote and support student well-being.

Bullying resources and supports are organized below following this framework.

Resources & Information for:

Resources

Lessons and Activities

  • Media Smarts.ca: A Canadian website with literacy resources for teachers and parents/guardians covering digital citizenship, cyber security, and cyberbullying. It is evidence-based and user-friendly; just narrow your focus by grade and topic. Available in French.
  • My Voice is Louder Than Hate: A multimedia lesson resource designed to empower students in Grades 9 to 12 to push back against hate and prejudice in their online communities; available in French.
  • Youth Diversion Essex- Beyond Bullying: This resource explores the difference between bullying and normal peer conflict. Different forms of bullying (physical, verbal, social, and cyberbullying) are explored as well as legal consequences and the far-reaching impact that bullying can have. Includes PowerPoint and supplementary activities for ages 10-15 and 15+.
  • Safe @ School: This website offers educators a collection of bullying prevention resources.
  • RCMP- Bullying and cyberbullying: Ready-to-use lesson plans include engaging activities.  Available in French. The site offers, by request, the following lesson plans on the topic of bullying and cyberbullying:
    • Cyberbullying – Types, Consequences, Supports (Grades 4-6)
    • Cyberbullying – Impact, Prevention, Resolution (Grades 7-8)
    • Cyberbullying – Conflict, Appropriate Behaviour, Support (Grades 9-10)
    • Cyberbullying and Digital Harassment – Conflict, Consequences, Citizenship (Grades 11-12)
  • Ophea- Healthy relationships: Offered are numerous links to support healthy relationships and relationship challenges for educators; access requires a subscription.
  • PREVNet- Classroom Activities: Bullying resources include a word search, quiz, and crossword, plus support for students to create unique public service announcements and comic strips. 
  • OPHEA Healthy Schools Certification: Gives your school the tools to promote and enhance the health and well-being of students, school staff, and the broader school community. Contact your school nurse at 519-258-2146 x 1555 for more information on how they can support your school in achieving a Healthy Schools Certification.
  • Canadian Red Cross- Beyond the Hurt program: This takes a school-wide approach to prevent bullying while building empathy and respect.
  • E-learning for adults courses: Offered are affordable, flexible online courses you can take now to learn ways to create safety for you, your family, your colleagues, and your clients.
  • Healthy Youth Relationships course: For students topics covering how to stay safe from violence and have respectful dating relationships. 
  • WITS (Walk Away, Ignore, Talk it Out, Seek Help): A group of programs that brings together schools, families, and community members to help elementary school children learn effective strategies on how to deal with bullying and peer victimization. Schools must subscribe annually to gain access to resources, training, and program material.
  • Principals are also responsible for making their school board’s bullying and prevention plan available to the public.
  • Conduct a School Environmental Scan to identify where bullying takes place on the property.
  • Student council or student wellness council can participate in identifying school needs and activities to address those needs.
  • Ophea- Ideas for Action: (French Version): Can be used alone or with the OPHEA Healthy School Certification process for education about healthy growth and development. This is a starting point to encourage students to start conversations about topics related to healthy relationships in your school and community. This guide provides key information about existing programs and resources, tips for getting started, things to consider, sources of support in your community, in Ontario, and across Canada, and activity ideas in the following areas:

School Campaigns and Social Media

Support in the Community

  • Youth Wellness Hub: For youth aged 12-25 offering walk-in mental health services, substance use, and addiction services, access to a Nurse Practitioner for primary care, and community social services. The Youth Wellness Hub also offers recreational activities and peer support. Services are available in Windsor and Leamington locations.
  • Windsor Essex Community Health Centre Teen Health: Local, teen health services for medical care (including sexual health), counselling, groups, e-library, addiction support, and eating disorder support for ages 12 to 24 years; one can call 519-253-8481 for more information.

Additional Resources and Support

Support in the Community

  • Youth Wellness Hub: For youth aged 12-25 offering walk-in mental health services, substance use, and addiction services, access to a Nurse Practitioner for primary care, and community social services. The Youth Wellness Hub also offers recreational activities and peer support. Services are available in Windsor and Leamington locations.
  • Windsor Essex Community Health Centre Teen Health: Local, teen health services for medical care (including sexual health), counselling, groups, e-library, addiction support, and eating disorder support for ages 12 to 24 years; one can call 519-253-8481 for more information.

Additional Resources and Support

  • Student council or student wellness council can participate in identifying school needs and activities to address those needs.
  • Ophea- Ideas for Action: (French Version): Can be used alone or with the OPHEA Healthy School Certification process for education about healthy growth and development. This is a starting point to encourage students to start conversations about topics related to healthy relationships in your school and community. This guide provides key information about existing programs and resources, tips for getting started, things to consider, sources of support in your community, in Ontario, and across Canada, and activity ideas in the following areas:

School Campaigns and Social Media

Support in the Community

  • Youth Wellness Hub: For youth aged 12-25 offering walk-in mental health services, substance use, and addiction services, access to a Nurse Practitioner for primary care, and community social services. The Youth Wellness Hub also offers recreational activities and peer support. Services are available in Windsor and Leamington locations.
  • Windsor Essex Community Health Centre Teen Health: Local, teen health services for medical care (including sexual health), counselling, groups, e-library, addiction support, and eating disorder support for ages 12 to 24 years; one can call 519-253-8481 for more information.

Additional Resources and Support