Article by: Lindsay Slobodzian, Centre Director & Laurene Sloboda, Children & Youth Counsellor, Okanagan Boys & Girls Clubs, Oliver, www.boysandgirlsclubs.ca
This year Pink Shirt Day took place on Wednesday, February 27th. It was an opportunity to increase public awareness in the Okanagan, and to demonstrate that we are all part of the solution and won’t tolerate bullying any longer.
Pink Shirt Day originates in Nova Scotia where two young men stood up to bullying in their high school. A new student was being bullied and was harassed even more when he showed up at school wearing a pink shirt. In support, these two young men went to a discount store and purchased 50 pink t-shirts. They enlisted fellow male students to wear the pink shirts to support the new student who was being bullied.
Many of the pre-teens and teens we provide support to at the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs have experienced some sort of bullying – be it physical, emotional or through the internet (cyber-bullying). As parents and caregivers, it can be challenging to know what steps to take to help your teen with this type of abuse, because for a lot of youth, the scars are more than skin-deep. And what if you discover that your teen IS the bully? Here are some tips:
1. If your teen discloses to you that s/he is being bullied – You must believe your teen and remain calm. Try to find out the facts and support your teen emotionally. Bullying can make a child feel extremely embarrassed, experience feelings of worthlessness, create low self-esteem and they may hate or dread attending school. They need your support through this experience. Revealing this information was probably not very easy. Victims of bullying often fear parental involvement because they fear retaliation if the bully finds out they told an adult about this violence. 2. Contact the School or Organization Immediately – Your teen may not like this but if you feel this bullying is a problem for your child, you must report it and not allow this victimization to occur. Many schools have very specific policies to deal with bullying and cyber-bullying and will not tolerate this behaviour. 3. If Your Teen is the Bully – What if you find out that your teen is a bully? Talk to him/her about why this behaviour is not okay and that s/he needs to develop skills to better deal with his/her frustrations. Seek out help for your teen. Remember that bullies have often been victims of bullying themselves and may need help in dealing with this experience. 4. Cyber Bullying – Remember that bullying does not always mean that your teen is being physically bullied. In today’s culture cyber-bullying is very common and is much harder for parents to detect. This is just as wrong and harmful as bullying in the school yard, so reiterate with your teen that all bullying is wrong.
Pink Shirt Day 2013 was an opportunity to increase public awareness in the Okanagan, and to demonstrate that we are all part of the solution and won’t tolerate bullying any longer.
For more information on Pink Shirt Day or on the free resources and programs offered through the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs, please call 250-498-8844.
Resources: Desert Sun Counselling and Resource Centre provides referral and advocacy services and counselling for women, men, children and youth: Oliver: 250.498.2538, Osoyoos: 250.495-2623, http://www.desertsuncounselling.ca/ South Okanagan Women’s Crisis Line: 250.485.7777 (Toll free 1.877.723.3911) Ministry of Children and Family Development: 250.485.6001 Victim’s Assistance: Oliver: 250.498.4353, Osoyoos: 250.495.7236 Mental Health: 250.495.6433 RCMP (Police): Oliver: 250.498.3422, Osoyoos: 250.495.2561
“Abuse Awareness and Prevention Series” Coordinated by: Ursula Wick, Oliver Please look for future educational articles that will run in this series.