Almost one-third of students are being bullied at school and one-fifth of students report having bullied someone else.1 The impact of bullying can be severe, and can include anxiety, physical ailments, absenteeism, diminished academic performance, and depression.2
Research and experience suggest that comprehensive efforts that involve teachers and other school staff, as well as students, parents and community members are likely to be more effective than purely classroom-based approaches in dealing with bullying. Solutions for bullying are rooted in prevention and early interventions that focus on the whole child (cognitive, social, emotional, physical), and must be connected with day-to-day learning and classroom interaction.
3 Administrators, teachers, and other school staff need to acquire knowledge and skills through training and professional development on school-level bullying prevention and intervention strategies that focus on building skills for healthy relationships.
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1. Paglia-Boak, Angela, Adlaf, Edward M., Hamilton, Hayley A., Beitchman, Joseph H., Wolfe, David, and Mann, Robert E., (2012). The Mental Health and Well-Being of Ontario Students, 1991-2011: Detailed OSDUHS Findings (CAMH Research Document Series No. 34). Toronto, ON: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. p.68. Online: http://www.camh.ca/en/research/news_and_publications/ontario-student-drug-use-and-health-survey/Documents/2011%20OSDUHS%20Docs/2011OSDUHS_Detailed_MentalHealthReport.pdf.
2. Office of the Auditor General, Ontario, 2010 Annual Report (Toronto: Queen’s Printer for Ontario, 2010), p. 272-287. Online: http://www.auditor.on.ca/en/reports_en/en10/311en10.pdf.
3. School Board Briefing on Bill 13 and Policy and Program Changes, Ontario Ministry of Education, December 2013, p. 3.
4 Bullying Prevention and Intervention, PPM No. 144(December 5, 2012), p. 3. Online: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/extra/eng/ppm/144.pdf.