Forms of Bullying
- Physical – hitting, pushing, tripping, stealing or damaging property.
- Verbal – name calling, threats, humiliating, mocking, making sexists or racist comments.
- Social – excluding others, spreading gossip or rumors, making others look foolish or deliberately damaging another persons friendship.
- Electronic – spreading rumors, images or hurtful comments using an online forum or technology.
Bullying is a form of repeated, persistent and aggressive behaviour towards an individual that is intended to cause fear, distress and/or harm to another persons body, feelings, self-esteem or reputation.
Read more from HWDSB in their Bullying Prevention and Intervention info guide.
Types of Bullying
- Racial – repeated aggression, exclusion, negative comments, teasing or name calling directed at a person due to their racial or ethnic background.
- Religious – repeated aggression, exclusion, negative comments, teasing or name calling directed at a person due to their religious beliefs, background, dress code or observance.
- Sexual – Repeatedly excluding or mistreating a person because of their gender, sexual orientation; making crude or sexist comments or jokes about a persons sexual behaviour; spreading sexual rumours about a person; repeatedly calling a person gay, lesbian or other inappropriate names.
- Disability – Repeatedly excluding or mistreating a person due to their disability.
What should I do if my child is bullied?
- Listen to your child; assure them that they have a right to be safe.
- Know the facts about what happened and when.
- Explain to your child that reporting takes courage and protects others.
- Tell your child’s teacher, trusted school staff or the principal/vice-principal.
- Remain calm so that you can support your child and co-plan a course of action.
- Stay on course. Watch your child’s behaviour. If meetings with staff don’t stop the bullying, talk to the principal. Follow up on the steps agreed to at the meeting.
- If bullying occurs during sports or activities, speak to the instructor or coach.
- Contact police if bullying involves criminal behaviour (eg.g sexual assault, use of a weapon), or threats outside of school.
Read more from HWDSB from their Safe School Resources.
How can I report bullying?
- Tell your child’s teacher, vice-principal or principal immediately.
- If reporting bullying to staff is uncomfortable, students can use the free and anonymous HWDSB Helps service to share a tip about bullying, mental health, substance use and more. Tips are sent to school staff. This is not a crisis line or counselling service. Click here to learn more.
- Text 905-963-0066. Standard rates apply.
- Download the HWDSB Helps app for iOS and Android.
- Web Chat HERE.
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Resources
HWDSB has a free and anonymous tip line to report harassment or bullying, mental health, and substance abuse.
- Text 905-963-0066. Standard rates apply.
- Download the HWDSB Helps app for iOS and Android
This is not a crisis line or counselling service.
Kids Help Phone Bullying Incident Report – This free 9 question report from Kids Help Phone allows you and your child to keep track of bullying incidents so that you can report it when you are ready.
In light of the devastating events on October 7, 2019 at Sir Winston Churchill Secondary School in Hamilton, a local community group called Voices Against Bullying was formed. This group’s goal is to encourage, empower and support children and parents affected by bullying.
BullyingCanada Inc is Canada’s first youth-created-anti-bullying charity. We have served hundreds of thousands of youth across the country by, amongst other initiatives, providing individual support, extensive resources, case management, scholarships, and presentations to schools and organizations.
PREVNet is a national research and knowledge mobilization hub that partners with researchers and organizations focused on fostering healthy relationships among children and youth. Learn more about:
- Healthy relationships
- Bullying
- Cyberbullying
- Teen Dating Violence
