Bullying and Suicide, the 2X Development of Bullying Prevention More Likely to Attempt Suicide and Intervention Programs Is Vital (Hinduja & Patchin, 2010)

Home , Bullying and suicide, Suicidal ideation

FACT SHEET 3 BULLYING

What is it? Bullying Bullying is related to negative psychological, emotional and and suicide behavioural outcomes. These outcomes can eventually make youth feel as though they can no longer cope (Wade & Beran, 2011). Bullying is linked to several precursors to thoughts of suicide (Hinduja & Patchin, 2010): • depression and hopelessness; • low self-esteem; • loneliness and isolation; • anger and frustration; Bullying is a conscious, willful, deliberate, • humiliation; repeated and hostile activity marked by • embarrassment; or • trauma. an imbalance of power, intent to harm and/or threat of aggression.” % (Alberta Human Services, 2015) 85 of bullying takes place in front of Types of bullying other people (Craig & Pepler, 1997).

VERBAL BULLYING CYBERBULLYING When bullying is accompanied • sarcasm; • Using electronic communication by other risk factors, it often causes • threats; (e.g., internet, social media suicidal ideation (Hinduja & Patchin, • negative, insulting, or text messaging) to: 2010; Olson, 2012; Holt et al., 2015). Risk or humiliating comments; or »» intimidate; factors for suicidal ideation include: • unwanted sexual comments. »» put-down; • bullying; »» spread rumours; • sexual abuse; SOCIAL BULLYING »» make fun of someone; or • physical abuse; • spreading rumours or damaging »» disseminate private or • drug abuse; or someone’s reputation; embarrassing information • depression. • excluding others from a group; or images of a person without • humiliating others with Both bullying victims and those their permission (Alberta public gestures or graffiti; or who perpetuate bullying are at a higher Human Services, 2015). • damaging someone’s friendships. risk for suicide. Kids who are involved as both victims and perpetrators of PHYSICAL BULLYING Cyber bullying victims are bullying are at the highest risk for • intentional physical aggression suicide (Holt et al, 2015, Suicide towards another person; Prevention Resource Center, n.d). • destroying or stealing belongings; or Because of the strong connection • unwanted sexual touching. between bullying and suicide, the 2x development of bullying prevention more likely to attempt suicide and intervention programs is vital (Hinduja & Patchin, 2010). (van Geel, et al., 2014). FACT SHEET 3 BULLYING

Helping out What to do if a youth is being bullied or in emotional distress or suicidal in ADVICE FOR ADULTS – IF A ADVICE FOR ADULTS – IF ADVICE FOR YOUTH: 1youth are bullied (Statistics 3 YOUTH IS BEING BULLIED: THE BULLYING VICTIM IS • If you see someone Canada, 2012). SUICIDAL: • Offer comfort and being bullied, decide • Ask the bullying support; tell youth on the safest course victim directly if they are safe. of action and act. You they are thinking of • Ask whoever oversees might tell the person LGBTQ students killing themselves. the group in which the who is bullying to stop, experience discrimination • If they say yes, bullying happens to and/or offer the victim connect them with monitor the situation. help, and/or seek help help immediately. Call • Make arrangements from an adult. your local crisis centre, for the victim to be • If you are being safe, either with an and connect them with x bullied, stand up for 3 more frequently than their adult or older child the suicidal youth. yourself by looking heterosexual peers (Canadian near where the • If the youth tells you confident, making eye- Institute of Health Research, 2012). they have a plan of bullying takes place. contact, and using a how they will kill • Help develop calm but assertive themselves, call 9-1-1 confidence, build self- tone. Tell the bully to (Centre for Suicide esteem and encourage stop, then walk away. Prevention, 2015). communication Seek help from an (Alberta Human adult. Do not keep Services, 2015). bullying a secret (PREVNet.ca, n.d.). 40% of youth have been RESOURCES cyberbullied (Schneider et al., 2012). FOR PARENTS FOR YOUTH

• Indigenous Youth Cyberbullying • KidsHelpPhone.ca 1 (800) 668-6868 Special Feature, Centre for • B-Free.ca Suicide Prevention csprev.ca/2bZXxVe • BullyFreeAlberta.ca • Cyberbullying Special Feature, • PREVNet.ca Centre for Suicide Prevention FOR SCHOOLS FOR MORE INFORMATION, csprev.ca/2c00h4I • KindCampaign.com VISIT SUICIDEINFO.CA • B-Free.ca • StopaBully.ca • BullyFreeAlberta.ca • PREVNet.ca • PREVNet.ca

VIEW THE REFERENCE LIST ONLINE www.suicideinfo.ca/resource/bullying-and-suicide/ FACT SHEET 3 BULLYING

References ABOUT THE CENTRE FOR Alberta Human Services. (2015). What is bullying? Retrieved from http://www.human SUICIDE PREVENTION services.alberta.ca/abuse-bullying/18312.html Anyone can learn to identify someone Centre for Suicide Prevention. (2012). Teen suicide resource toolkit. Retrieved from at risk of suicide and get them help. https://www.suicideinfo.ca/resource/updated-expanded-teen-suicide/ Call us. Craig, W. & Pepler, D. (1997). Observations of bullying and victimization in the school We are the Centre for Suicide Prevention. yard. Canadian Journal of School Psychology, 13/2, 41-59. For 35+ years we’ve been equipping Canadians with knowledge and skills to Hinduja, S., & Patchin, J. (2010). Cyberbullying Research Summary: Cyberbullying and respond to people at risk of suicide. We Suicide. Retrieved from https://cyberbullying.org/cyberbullying-research-summary- can equip you too. We educate for life. cyberbullying-and-suicide ABOUT THE MENTAL HEALTH Holt, M., Vivolo-Kantor, A., Polanin, J., Holland, M., DeGue, S., Matiasko, J., Wolfe, M., COMMISSION OF CANADA & Reid, G. (2015). Bullying and Suicidal Ideation and Behaviours: A Meta-Analysis. American Academy of Pediatrics, 135(2), 496-509. doi: 10.1542/peds.2014-1864 The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) is a catalyst for improving the Olson, R. (2012). iE5: Alcohol dependence and suicide. Retrieved from https://www. mental health system and changing the suicideinfo.ca/resource/alcoholandsuicide/ attitudes and behaviours of Canadians around mental health issues. PREVNet.ca. (n.d.). Help! I’m being bullied! Retrieved from www.prevnet.ca/bullying/ kids/help-i-m-being-bullied ABOUT THE CANADIAN ASSOCIATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION Schneider, S., O’Donnell, L., Stueve, A., Coulter, R. (2012). Cyberbullying, school bullying, and psychological distress: A regional census of high school students. American Journal The Canadian Association for Suicide of Public Health, 102(1), 171-177. Prevention (CASP) was incorporated in 1985 by a group of professionals who saw the Suicide Prevention Resource Center. (n.d.). Suicide and bullying. Retrieved from need to provide information and resources http://www.sprc.org/sites/sprc.org/files/library/Suicide_Bullying_Issue_Brief.pdf to communities to reduce the suicide rate Statistics Canada. (2012). Canadian Bullying Statistics. Retrieved from http://www.cihr- and minimize the harmful consequences irsc.gc.ca/e/45838.html of suicidal behaviour. If you are in crisis, call your van Geel, M., Vedder, P., & Tanilon, J. (2014). Relationship between peer victimization, local crisis line. cyberbullying, and suicide in children and adolescents: A meta-analysis. JAMA suicideprevention.ca/need-help Pediatrics. Retrieved from http://archpedi.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?article ID=1840250&utm_source=Silverchair%20Information%20Systems&utm_medium=email &utm_campaign=JAMAPediatrics%3AOnlineFirst03%2F10%2F2014

Wade, A., & Beran, T. (2011). Cyberbullying: The new era of bullying. Canadian Journal of School Psychology, 26(1), 44-61. FOR MORE INFORMATION, VISIT SUICIDEINFO.CA