Bullying

What is bullying? What is harassment?

Bullying and harassment are methods of misusing power to degrade, humiliate and hurt someone.

Bullying is cruel, hurtful behavior that is not based on discrimination.

Harassment is discrimination that involves characteristics protected by Canada’s Human Rights Act –ethnicity, religion, age, sex, family status, disability and sexual orientation.

Bullying and harassment can be:

PHYSICAL: touching someone in a way they don’t want or using (or threatening to use) violence against them
VERBAL: taunting, insulting or laughing at someone
RELATIONAL: starting nasty rumours about someone or not letting them hang out with you and your friends
CYBER: using the Internet to send unwanted messages to someone, mock them or ruin their reputation

Everyone has rights and responsibilities

Your rights are to:

be treated fairly and with respect
feel safe
be included in groups and activities
ask for help whenyou need it
say 'no' to unwanted behaviour
make your own decisions (with support from the adults you trust)
be protected from bullying and harassment
make truthful complaints
be informed of complaints made about you
have both sides of an issue or argumentheard
be informed of consequences that affect you
have a fair appeal process
have a supportive adult speak for you

Your responsibilities are to:

treat others fairly and with respect
include and welcome others
help protect yourself from harm
respect other peoples' boundaries
give help when needed
listen when others say "No"
not overpower, bully, harass or abuse anyone
controlyour anger
report mistreatment of other people
listen to yourself and get help if something seems wrong
let people make their own decisions

Ratting versus telling: there is a difference

Ratting is done to get others in trouble.
Ratting hopes to create a problem for someone else.
Telling is done to get help, to take care of yourself or someone else.
Telling tries to solve a problem.
Ratting says "I want to hurt!"
Telling says "Please help!"

For more information on the Canadian Red Cross Beyond the Hurt bullying prevention program for youth, contact the Canadian Red Cross office nearest you, or email respected@redcross.ca for more information.

Download our new Beyond the Hurt brochure (PDF, 323kb).