Healthy Schools Newsletter
From Hastings Prince Edward Public Health November 2024 | Bullying is aggressive behaviour that is meant to cause harm, fear, distress or to create a negative or hostile environment for an individual. If not addressed, bullying as well as violence can cause numerous short and long-term health consequences for children and youth including depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, low self-esteem, substance use and addiction, negative social impacts, and more. Bullying including physical, verbal, and social or cyber abuse can be an ongoing issue for children and youth. A whole school approach is the most effective way to prevent violence and bullying and provides the best environment for optimal student learning. Through fostering a safe, inclusive and accepting school environment, students learn and develop key healthy relationships skills and attitudes. For educators - PREVNet is a Canadian research and knowledge mobilization hub that provides many bullying prevention and teen dating violence resources.
- For bullying prevention:
- For teen dating violence prevention:
- For a list of additional curriculum supports and other materials for educators, visit our violence and bullying webpage.
| Having healthy relationships is a vital part of a person’s overall wellbeing, and our children and youth are no different. Children and youth need positive connections with parents, family, peers, teachers, coaches, and other authority figures. Since children and youth don’t have a lot of life experience, they often don’t know what a healthy relationship looks like. The best way for children and youth to learn about healthy relationships is through watching their parents/caregivers. When they see their parents/caregivers treating each other, friends, and family with honesty, respect, trust, and open communication, children and youth will begin to expect that type of treatment in their own relationships. However, not every child has a healthy home environment. As educators you play a key role in helping children and youth learn about what healthy relationships look like. *New resource*
Sexuality Teaching Kit (Grade 7-8 and Grade 9-12) The Healthy Relationships Section includes information on signs of healthy vs. unhealthy relationships, types of communication, and consent. Includes presentation, videos, activities and discussions. Visit our website to download. | Home, school and community relationships | Post on your school socials! HPEPH has created bullying awareness and prevention social media messaging that you can cut, paste, and post as appropriate for your school community. Use one of the messages below or visit our Bullying Prevention Communications page for a full list. - DYK that youth learn about relationships by observing adults? When adults model healthy relationships, youth learn the skills to form healthy connections with others. For more information,visit PREVNet.
- Navigating the teen years can be hard, but parents and caregivers can help! Connect with your child and provide them with opportunities to discuss their thoughts and feelings. For more information, visit our resilience webpage.
- Bullying is not a normal part of growing up. Adults have a responsibility to prevent bullying and intervene when bullying occurs. For more information, visit PREVNet.
Looking to promote information to your school community on another topic? Visit our Newsletters and Social Media page for newsletters inserts, social media messages, and school announcements that be easily “cut and pasted” into your school promotional materials. | Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week is Nov. 17-23, 2024. Ontario has designated the third week in November to Bullying Awareness and Prevention. This week highlights the important roles we all play in preventing and responding to bullying – at school, with friends, at home and online. Suggested Morning Announcements (adapted from the communication resources): - This week is Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week. This week highlights the important role we all play in preventing and responding to bullying – at school, with friends, at home and online. We’re challenging you to join us in taking a stand against bullying. If you see or hear about someone being bullied, don’t just ignore it. Tell an adult, befriend the person who is being bullied or stand up for the person being bullied.
- Bullying is behaviour that is intended to hurt, scare, or upset another person. Bullying is aggressive behaviour and often happens repeatedly. Bullying is never okay. You can help by standing up for the person being bullied, by refusing to participate in bullying, or by telling an adult who can help.
- Bullying can happen both in person and online. It could be pushing or kicking someone, spreading rumours, yelling in someone’s face, not including others, telling others not to be friends with someone, and more. Bullying is never okay, and we all play a role in preventing it. You can help prevent bullying by being kind, including others, standing up for someone being bullied, or telling an adult who can help stop the bullying.
- Stop and think before you press send! Before you send or forward a message, or photo, ask yourself if it could hurt, upset, or embarrass someone else. Think about how you would feel if it was being sent about you. Even if you weren’t the person who created a message or post, forwarding it means you are part of the bullying. You can help by deleting it and refusing to pass it on!
- Cyberbullying is relentless and can occur any time of the day, which means victims of cyberbullying can feel unsafe, even at home. Victims of cyberbullying often feel an extreme sense of isolation, loneliness, fear, and despair. Everyone has a right to feel safe at school, in the community, and online. If you are being bullied, talk to someone you trust, such as a teacher, coach, counsellor, or parent or service such as Kids Help Phone (free confidential service 24/7 at 1-800-668-6868 or text 686868). Adult intervention stops bullying.
| Looking to promote information to your school community on another topic? Visit our Newsletters and Social Media page for newsletters inserts, social media messages, and school announcements that can be easily “cut and pasted” into your school promotional materials. | Interested in substance use, addiction and related behaviours or human development and sexual health? Stay tuned for our January newsletter, which will feature information, announcements, and resources for students, staff, and families. Spread the Word About the Healthy Schools Newsletter! For four updates in 2024-2025 school year, including direct links to topic-specific curriculum supports, activities, and resources, encourage your colleagues to subscribe to our Healthy Schools e-Newsletter! Questions? Do you have questions right now? Use our online form to contact us. | Contact Information: For other questions about Healthy Schools: healthyschools@hpeph.ca You have received this email at from Hastings Prince Edward Public Health as a result of a request you have made or due to a service/subscription that you are registered for. While you may discontinue your subscription to this mailing at any time by pressing the unsubscribe button below, please note that this bulletin will be used to provide important updates. | | | | |
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