Protect yourself from bullying – An RCMP back to school safety message

Ottawa — August 30, 2007 — It’s back to school and RCMP members in your community are playing an active role in keeping children safe in schools and helping youth protect themselves against bullying.

“As part of the RCMP National Youth Strategy, officers across the country are speaking to young people on issues affecting them,” says Inspector Rick Shaw, Officer in Charge of RCMP National Youth Services. “It's unfortunate that bullying seems to get the most attention when it is at the center of a high profile tragic event. The reality is that bullying is an everyday occurrence. With the school year upon us, I think it's important to remind students, parents, teachers and staff to do what they can to keep their schools bully free.”

Bullying can be defined as physically, mentally or emotionally abusing another person for personal satisfaction and to feel a sense of empowerment over another. It can be in a direct form, such as teasing or taunting, or an indirect form such as spreading rumours or bullying via the Internet.

deal.org, the RCMP’s youth engagement program, features useful resources on bullying at www.deal.org. Information on what constitutes bullying, what kind of person usually bullies others and why, and what kind of people bullies generally target can all be found at www.deal.org/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=539&Itemid=631.

Parents should always try to keep open lines of communication with their children so they are comfortable coming forward if they are being bullied at school. Young people should also be encouraged to approach teachers or other adults they trust if they are experiencing bullying and are not comfortable speaking with their parents. The problem can only be rectified if the person affected comes forward.

Youth has been an RCMP strategic priority since 1999. The RCMP has developed a number of proactive measures to support young people in becoming mature, law-abiding citizens and to keep them from committing crimes or becoming victims of crime. The National Youth Officer Program and deal.org are two of these initiatives.

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For more information, please contact RCMP Media Relations at (613) 993-2999.