This resource is one sections compiled for resources regarding personal safety. To access the other sections, you can follow our link here, it will take you to the introductory resource on Safety which contains a directory to the other sections.
These topics contain content that may be triggering to some, if you feel that you are in crisis please reach out to one of the following or go here for a list of crisis and helplines available in your area.
For Indigenous Peoples, Hope for Wellness: 1-855-242-3310 Available 24/7
For Trans people of all ages, Trans LifeLine: 1-877-330-6366 Available 24/7
For Youth 20 and under, Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 Available 24/7
For people with thoughts of suicide, Suicide Prevention and Support: 1-833-456-4566 Available 24/7
While the term “bullying” itself may have the connotation of being something trivial, and frequently written off as kids being kids; however, bullying is a very serious matter and it should be treated as such. Bullying has been linked to higher rates of depression, anxiety, and increased feelings of hopelessness and loneliness among school aged victims in the short term, and they can persist well into adulthood; becoming a form of post-traumatic stress disorder. Not to mention that bullying behaviours continue into adulthood.
Bullying is acts done with the intent to hurt or intimidate someone else. Instances of on-going bullying occur when a bully finds someone who is for one reason or another unable to defend themselves; but it is crucial to know that anyone can be the target of a bully. Just because they could defend themselves, or they weren’t bothered by the incident, should not allow bullying to be tolerated. Bullying leaves the victims feeling afraid, anxious, on-edge and apprehensive, and these feelings can persist well beyond the initial incidents.
Bullying encompasses several different ways to hurt people, such as:
Physical assault
Verbal assault
Sexual harassment
Spreading malicious rumours
Ostracizing
Instigating violence or cruelty
Cyberbullying
Mean or threatening messages through emails, texts and/or social media
Spreading rumours or secrets online
Posting or sharing embarrassing or personal images of someone online, without their knowledge or permission
Hacking someone’s email or social media and other online accounts to either;
Pretend to be them and harass their friends
Post inappropriate or malicious content
Get them banned from the website
Delete their content or account
Changing their passwords to lock them out of their accounts
Creating online groups, forums, or polls dedicated to ridicule others
Ganging up on someone in a video game or on a live video
Trolling
Defined as the deliberate act of making unsolicited controversial or instigating comments or messages with the intent to provoke an emotional reaction from others
The rate of discrimination experienced among youths who identify as – or are assumed to be – 2SLGBTQ+ is 3 times higher than heterosexual youths
1 in 3 adolescents have reported being bullied in Canada
47% of Canadian parents have reported having a child that is the victim of bullying
Of adult Canadians, 38% of males and 30% of females have reported experiencing bullying during their school years
40% of Canadian workers experience bullying on a weekly basis
Resources:
If someone is making you feel unsafe, remember that it is not your fault and that you are not alone. Please consider reaching out for help.
If you need someone to talk to, you can reach a professional counsellor at Kids Help Phone 24/7 by either calling 1-800-668-6868, or by texting “Connect” to 686868
If you are in need of immediate mental health counselling and/or crisis intervention, you can reach a professional and culturally competent counsellor at Hope for Wellness 24/7 via their online chat counselling services, or by calling 1-855-242-3310
If you are trans or Two-Spirit and you are in crisis or need to talk to someone who understands what you are going through, you can reach call the Trans Lifeline at 1-877-330-6366. While their operators are guaranteed to be on call during the following hours, operators are also frequently available during off-hours, so please call whenever you need to
Eastern: 10am – 4am
Central: 9am – 3am
Pacific: 7am – 1am
If you are being bullied and need someone to talk to you can call or text the Bullying Hotline Canada at 877-352-4497, or through email 24/7/365 at support@bullyingcanada.ca
If you are under the age of 30 and are either in crisis or in need of someone to talk to you can access the ca crisis and emotional support through their online chat portal or by texting them at 778-783-0177, from 6pm – 12am PST 365 days a year
If you are in crisis, you can reach out to Crisis Services Canada either by calling them 24/7 at 1-833-456-4566 or by text at 45645 from 4pm – 12 am EST
