In light of Bullying Awareness Week, held Nov. 13-19, and recent media attention towards youth mental health issues, master’s student Christine Polihronis is focusing her research on bullying and the role of bystanders.
Straying away from current campaigns that focus on the message, “It Gets Better,” Polihronis is looking into the role bystanders play in enabling bullying, according to a Carleton press release.
“Bystanders can play three roles,” Polihronis said. “They can choose to stand by and passively watch, they can actively join in with the bully, [or] they can defend the victim, stand up for them.”
The third option is one that Polihronis publicized during this year’s bullying week.
“People can make a difference and stop bullying,” she said.
“If you see it happening, do something, whether it is in feeling safe enough to stand up to the bully, or calling the police,” Polihronis said.
She said her interest in Bullying Awareness Week was sparked by the organizers’ approach, which focused on how bullying affects everyone and is everyone’s responsibility.
“I know everyone is affected by bullying at some point in their life,” she said. “Bullying is a huge problem that we need answers to.”
“Intervening works best if it is done in large numbers,” she added.
Getting support from celebrities and political figures is “powerful for youth,” said PhD student Danielle Quigley, whose research ties into Bullying Awareness Week and Polihronis’ research.
But getting the message out is just the first step, she said.
“What’s most important is the environment’s response to the person who is bullying,” Quigley said. “If the consistent response that bullying isn’t acceptable behaviour comes from every environment that youth and children live, learn and play, then rates of bullying will decline.”
A nationwide anti-bullying campaign is needed in order to combat the problem, Polihronis suggested, citing research conducted by Craig Harel of Queen’s University in 2004.
According to Harel’s research, Canada ranks 26th out of 34 developed nations in efforts to defend against bullying, she said. The United States ranked three spots above that, at 23rd.
That said, mental health awareness is on the rise, according to Carleton professor Tina Daniels.
“Awareness of the serious harm [bullying] causes and the need to address these issues as a mental health issue is increasing,” she said.
Bullying Awareness Week’s goal is for this trend to continue.
“Media are doing a great job right now to promote bullying prevention,” Polihronis said. “After anti-bullying week, it may fall through the cracks again. The challenge is for people to continue to be aware.”