Dispelling The Stigma of Bullying!

 Dispelling The Stigma of Bullying!

Bullying has reached epidemic levels, and has infiltrated every aspect of the lives of children and youth. It is a topic that nobody wants to discuss. Within the lost dimensions of the stigma around bullying lies the denial and lack of understanding we currently face. Canadians need to dissect the complexity of bullying to understand and deal with its enormity. Characteristically bullies have the greatest amount of stress and have the lowest scores in self-esteem on the Embrace Health Self-Esteem Assessment Tool.

The last several years have been hallmark times of societal despair, even in the descriptive capacity of bullying. Most people do not want to even label it as bullying; and a variety of different names have emerged for fear of bringing more behaviours forward or creating a mindset for it. With a larger perspective, perhaps fear of dealing with the stigma of bullying and the complete cycle of hopelessness. Bullying has impacted most people in many ways and remains a society based affliction, individuals hurting individuals. Perhaps it is the most barbaric acts that society needs more focus and governance with. An age old practice now still being conducted up to high tech precision and speed. Children and youth are hurting each other and living lifelong scars, we need to help everyone get out of the hurts and get into the caring. Now is the time to commit to vision and change.

The present day interventions and awareness are not enough to bring change and reduce the occurrence of bullying on a daily level for each child and youth. The stigma around bullying is based on fear and the ignorance in understanding the complexity in what needs to be done. Embrace Health Foundation has focused on the stimuli and and have formulated supportive approaches that bring a better understanding of what is happening in the dynamic of bullying. As much as it is uncool to be bullied, it is more uncool to be a bully.

Supporting an adaptive, individual self esteem is a positive intervention that builds each individual child and youth. It reduces the need to bully, and builds a more caring society. Ten years of self-esteem research and development supports positive strategies in self-esteem enhancement for children and youth and builds stronger, healthier, more resilient people.