Despite the concerted efforts of youth groups, educators and other stakeholders over the past year, bullying remains an ugly reality for far too many Alberta communities in 2011.
National Bullying Awareness Week takes place Nov. 13-19, a time set aside to highlight the need to protect young people in particular from being victimized in their schools and elsewhere in their cities, town and villages.
Sadly, bullying takes many forms in today's society, and whether it's physical attacks, computer-based threats and insults, or homophobic emotional taunting, bullying makes victims of individuals and, in a real sense, of the community at large too.
As such, all the effort being spent to educate students and others about the damage bullying can do and how to stop it is certainly effort well spent.
As with other types of violence, knowing how to identify bullying in its many guises, and how to prevent it is in everyone's best interest.
Cyberbullying is a relatively modern type of bullying that typically involves the use of email, cellphones, and text messages to transmit insulting or offensive materials towards an individual.
Although the Criminal Code makes it an offence to use electronic devices to “insult a person or likely to injure a person's reputation by exposing him/her to hatred, contempt or ridicule”, cyberbullying is today one of the most common forms of youth bullying.
The Alberta Children and Youth Services Department says victims of cyberbullying can suffer in many ways, including feeling angry, hurt and anxious, feeling trapped and surrounded, or feeling powerless, frustrated and betrayed.
Counsellors have also found that in many cases the victims of cyberbullying are afraid to report the incidents because they fear losing access to technology they use to communicate with friends.
As with cyberbullying, bullying directed at a young person's sexual orientation also continues to plague many communities.
With several high-profile youth suicides in Canada in recent months being blamed on homophobic bullying, it is a real concern.
Homophobic bullying is bullying that is motivated by prejudice against a person's actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.
Alberta Children and Youth Services officials say victims of homophobic bullying can suffer a number of sometimes lasting effects, including emotional and behavioural difficulties, depression and withdrawal, greater rates of school dropout, and less social support from family and peer groups.
As communities across Canada mark Bullying Awareness Week 2001, the message that it takes a community to protect the community's most vulnerable members is something residents across West Central Alberta should be encouraged to take to heart.
–Dan Singleton
