Province reaches out to youth struggling with bullying
A new campaign and helpline are making it easier for youth to stand up and stop bullying
Edmonton... The Government of Alberta launched a new 24-hour helpline for youth as part of a bullying awareness campaign. Young people who are struggling with bullying and are in need of help can call 1-888-456-2323 for support and referral.
The helpline is operated by trained counsellors 24-hours a day, seven days a week, and was created for children and youth who feel they have nowhere else to turn. Counsellors will be able to assist with information on bullying prevention and intervention, and referrals to local counseling and bullying prevention services. Helpline staff are trained to identify potentially harmful situations in need of emergency services.
“Unfortunately, for many youth, bullying has become an everyday occurrence,” said Children’s Services Minister Heather Forsyth. “It breaks my heart to know that many of them are suffering in silence and not turning to anyone for help. This helpline will help those youth who feel their situation is hopeless.”
The helpline is being launched in conjunction with an advertising campaign, called Stand Up and Stop Bullying. The campaign encourages youth to intervene in a safe way when they see someone being bullied.
“Our bullying prevention campaign is working to help change the perception that bullying is a normal part of growing up,” said Education Minister Gene Zwozdesky. “This campaign ensures youth have ways of getting help when they need it, while also helping them find out how they can take charge of this issue.”
The campaign, which was developed in conjunction with the Alberta Prevention of Bullying Youth Committee, will reach teens where they live, work and play – with targeted advertising in movie theatres, restaurant washrooms, buses, community centres, and Aboriginal Friendship Centres. A new teen-focused website – http://www.b-free.ca/ – includes information about bullying and how to make it stop. The site also features inspirational stories from people who have experienced and overcame bullying, with an opportunity for youth to post their own experiences. All of the campaign materials feature the toll-free provincial helpline number.
The Stand Up and Stop Bullying campaign and toll-free helpline are a direct result of commitments made during the Alberta Roundtable on Family Violence and Bullying held in May 2004. The total cost of the Stand Up and Stop Bullying campaign, including the helpline is $780,000.
Backgrounder
Bullying can stop within 10 seconds when someone steps in
It is important for youth to understand how to properly intervene in a bullying situation. Below are some tips on how to safely take action:
- Speak up. Tell the bully that their behaviour is unacceptable and that you won't get involved. You have an opinion too, and it matters more than you think.
- Encourage bystanders to get involved as a group. Band together and walk away. Bullies like an audience. If you’re standing around watching then you’re contributing to the problem and not the solution.
- Help the person being bullied. Put yourself in their shoes. Wouldn’t you want someone to help you if you were being picked on?
- Don’t fight the bully. It's not safe, and it’ll just fuel the fire.
- Ask someone for help. If the situation escalates, don’t be afraid to ask someone you trust for help. Keep asking until you get the help you need.
Additional information about bullying prevention and intervention can be found on http://www.b-free.ca/. Stand Up and Stop Bullying campaign materials can be viewed online at http://www.bullyfreealberta.ca/.
Alberta Prevention of Bullying Youth Committee members range in age from 15 to 22 years. Committee members are from all over the province and bring with them a variety of experiences.
The Stand Up and Stop Bullying campaign follows the launch of the S-Team Heroes campaign in June 2005. The S-Team Heroes are a group of cartoon super heroes created to help children ages three to 11 learn how to best handle bullying. The exciting adventures of the S-Team Heroes can be found online at http://www.teamheroes.ca/.
Facts:
- Research shows that bullying stops in less than 10 seconds, 57 per cent of the time when peers intervene on behalf of the victim (Peplar et al., 1997).
- 81 per cent of secondary students express empathy for victims. Only 10 to 21 per cent see bullying as a good way to solve problems. (The Anti-Bullying Handbook, Ken Sullivan, 2000)About one-third of Alberta households surveyed said that bullying has affected their family (Ipsos Reid, 2006)
- At least 85 per cent of bullying happens in a peer group. (Craig & Peplar, 1997)
