PRE-PRESENTATION INFORMATION BOOKLET

Transcription

1 PRE-PRESENTATION INFORMATION BOOKLET What is bullying? When a person or group tries to hurt or control another person in a harmful way it is a learned behavior called bullying. Bullying occurs when there is a difference in power between those being hurt and those doing the hurting. These hurtful behaviors are usually repeated and intentional and can be verbal, physical, social, or cyber. Bullying is NOT okay, and it is not something that should be a normal part of life. What is considered bullying (Verbal, Physical, Social, Cyber)? Leaving someone out on purpose, isolating or excluding a target Giving mean looks or glares Physical violence like: pushing, kicking, tripping, hitting, pinching, punching Name calling, racial slurs, insults, threats, mocking someone Using power to demand a service or money Humiliating someone, gaining up on them Spreading rumours Manipulating a relationship Using notes, , text, or social media to send hurtful, embarrassing, or threatening messages/posts Why are people bullied, and what do I do? No one is alone in being bullied and it is not your fault. The people who bully want you to feel badly about yourself because a lot of the time they are feeling unhappy with themselves. Don't give bullies that power. Bullying is NOT a normal part of growing up. Turning to drugs, alcohol, cutting, or suicide is NOT the right option. You need to know that there are many positive things that you can do about bullying. Since it is something some people learn, that means it is something we can change. Here are some things we all can do to stop bullying and rise above it: Educate yourself and others about what bullying is (verbal, physical, social, and cyber) and share with others that it s not acceptable Remember that you are never alone in feeling embarrassed, scared, hurt, or alone and remember that you don t deserve to feel that way don t let the bullies win! Tell someone! If you or someone you know are being bullied, you have to talk to someone; whether it s your parents, teachers, guidance counselor, principal,

2 or an organization. Don t be discouraged if the first person that you talk to doesn t give you the help that you need; keep talking to someone until you get the help that you need. You are not the problem and it is not your fault, so don t be ashamed or afraid to talk to someone, because it WILL get better. Be brave, stay calm, and ignore them! Bullies love getting a reaction, so even though it s hard, try your best to not retaliate and don t get upset. Stand up for yourself by telling them that what they are doing is wrong and by showing them that they can t bother you. If you don t react the way they want you to they will likely get bored and stop. Walk away and don t let the bullies win! ALWAYS stand up for others! Stand up for people and speak up for them because the impact is huge! Tell the bully to stop, refuse to join the bully, and don t watch the bully make sure to report any incident to an adult immediately. Be a friend! A smile and a compliment can go a long way! Include others and be nice to everyone. Join school activities, teams, or clubs to make new friends and get involved in your community! Don t go to the places where you know the bullies will upset you, for example: a party. If someone is bothering you online you can report and block them! Remember that everyone is different and unique; whether it s the way you look, your skin colour, size, what you wear, what you like, what you do, or what you believe, and it is these very things that make you special in our world. Being different is a GOOD thing. Be proud of yourself and be happy with who you are. Remember that Those who mind don t matter, and those who matter don t mind Be yourself! We are all equal and should be treated equally with kindness and respect Focus on what you love to do your passion(s), what s important to you, the POSITIVE. Follow your dreams and surround yourself with people who support your dreams, people who care about you, and accept you for who you are. Don t let people or things bring you down! You have the strength inside to overcome anything, so never give up! What do you do if you are bullying someone? Don t bully! You need to realize that hurting other people won t make anything better. Think about other ways that you can be a leader without hurting others, like focusing on your passion(s), school groups and community activities. If you need help or advice, talk to and adult; someone you trust! Everyone has power, and everyone has choices, and you need to use your power to make positive choices. Treat others the way you want to be treated. If you don t have anything nice to say, don t say it at all! Think about a paper being crumpled.. you can tell the paper sorry, but can never make it the same and that s what happens when you bully someone, it doesn t just go away and it can really hurt. Everyone has the right to be respected and the responsibility to respect others!

3 What else can you, others, your school, and community do about bullying? It is extremely important that bullying not be tolerated. Providing awareness and responding to school bullying is the responsibility of every person involved in the school community. Initiatives such as full school assemblies and classroom meetings/discussions are often a very successful strategy in implementing a school wide anti-bullying policy that sticks. It is very important to provide a safe environment for our youth. You can help make a child s experiences and influences positive. What is mental health? Mental health is key to our well-being. Mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood. We can t be truly healthy without it. It involves how we feel, think, act, and interact with the world around us. Mental health is about realizing our potential, coping with the normal stresses of life, and making a contribution to our community. Good mental health isn t about avoiding problems or trying to achieve a perfect life. It s about living well and feeling capable despite challenges. Ways to maintain positive mental health include: Talking about it Finding a balance between all aspects of your life Not overworking yourself and finding time to relax Getting professional help if you need it Connecting with others Surrounding yourself with people that support you and care about you Staying positive Finding your passion(s) and focusing on doing things that you love Believing in yourself and loving yourself Getting exercise and keeping physically active Eating healthy Helping others Getting enough sleep Developing coping skills What are mental illnesses? Mental illnesses are health problems that affect the way we think about ourselves, relate to others, and interact with the world around us. They affect our thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Mental illnesses can disrupt a person s life or create challenges, but with the right supports, a person can get back on a path to recovery and wellness.

4 It s important to understand that there are many different types of mental illness that affect people in different ways. Within each mental illness, people may have very different symptoms and challenges. Access to services, support from loved ones, and the ability to participate in communities play a big part in the way people experience mental illnesses. Culture, background, and personal beliefs also shape the way people understand mental illnesses. Many factors contribute to mental health problems, including: Biological factors, such as genes or brain chemistry Life experiences, such as trauma or abuse Family history of mental health problems Possible signs of a mental health problem: Eating or sleeping too much or too little Pulling away from people and usual activities Having low or no energy Feeling numb or like nothing matters Having unexplained aches and pains Feeling helpless or hopeless Smoking, drinking, or using drugs more than usual Feeling unusually confused, forgetful, on edge, angry, upset, worried, or scared Yelling or fighting with family and friends Experiencing severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships Having persistent thoughts and memories you can t get out of your head Hearing voices or believing things that are not true Thinking of harming yourself or others Inability to perform daily tasks like taking care of something or getting to work or school What are the different types of mental illnesses? Health professionals divide mental illnesses into several different groups based on signs or symptoms. Common groups of mental illnesses include: Anxiety disorders: Anxiety disorders are all related to anxiety. They may include excessive and uncontrollable worry, strong fears around everyday things or situations, unwanted thoughts, panic attacks, or fears around a past scary situation. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illnesses, and they can create barriers in people s lives. Panic disorder and phobias are examples of anxiety disorders.

5 Mood disorders: Mood disorders all affect a person s mood the way they feel. This can affect every part of a person s life. When someone experiences a mood disorder, they may feel sad, hopeless, tired, or numb for long periods of time. At times, some people experience an unusually high mood and feel powerful and energetic, but this can also create problems. Depression and bipolar disorder are examples of mood disorders. Eating disorders: Eating disorders really aren t about food. They are complicated illnesses that are often a way to cope with difficult problems or regain a sense of control. Eating disorders may include seriously restricting how much food a person eats, bingeing, or purging food. Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are examples of eating disorders. Psychotic disorders: Psychosis is a health problem that affects how people understand what is real and what isn t real. People may sense things that aren t real or strongly believe things that can t be real. Schizophrenia is one example of a psychotic disorder. Personality Disorders: Personality disorders are patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviours that may last for a long time and create challenges in a person s life. People who experience personality disorders may have difficulties developing healthy and satisfying relationships with others, managing their emotions well, avoiding harmful behaviour, and working toward important life goals. Personality disorders can affect the way people understand and view themselves and others and cope with problems. Borderline personality disorder is one example of a personality disorder. Childhood disorders: This is a large group of mental illnesses that start to affect people when they are young, though some people are not diagnosed until they re older. One example of a disorder in this group is attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (or ADHD), which affects a person s ability to focus, complete tasks, plan or organize, sit still, or think through actions. Dementia: Dementia refers to a group of symptoms. It can be caused by a disease that mainly affects nerve cells in the brain or can be associated with many other medical conditions. Dementia impacts a person s memory, language abilities, concentration, organization skills, mood, and behaviours. Alzheimer s disease is one type of dementia. A note on suicide: Suicide, when someone ends their life on purpose, is not a mental illness in itself. Not all people who die by suicide experience a mental illness. However, suicide may be linked to many different mental illnesses. It s important to take any talk or thoughts of suicide seriously and seek help.

6 What does it mean to have a stigma surrounding mental illness? Stigma is a mark of disgrace that sets a person apart. When a person is labeled by their illness they are seen as part of a stereotyped group. Negative attitudes create prejudice, which leads to negative actions and discrimination. Mental illnesses can take many forms, just as physical illnesses do. Mental illnesses are still feared and misunderstood by many people, but the fear will disappear as people learn more about them. Some people worry about asking for help because of the stigma around mental health problems. They may believe that asking for help means admitting that something is wrong. Some people worry about how others might see them. Asking for help means that you want to make changes or take steps towards your new health goals. We should celebrate the courage it takes to speak up and make changes. Getting help is part of recovery. If you, or someone you know, has a mental illness, there is good news: all mental illnesses can be treated. Mental illnesses are just like any other illness: everyone deserves care, help, and support. People who live with a mental illness can and do thrive. Mental illness does not define someone. The No Time for That Anti-Bullying Society aims to end the stigma surrounding mental illness. What do I do if I have a mental illness? Experiencing a mental illness can be very distressing. You may wonder if you ll feel like yourself again. You may not know what s happening to you, and you may worry about other people s reactions. It s important to know that it s not your fault and it s not a sign of weakness. It s important to seek help early. Finding help early will get you on the road to recovery faster and may even reduce the risk of problems in the future. Treatment often includes a few different approaches for example, counseling, medication and self-care. Support groups can connect people with shared experiences. And there are many self-help strategies to try. Some people may also find extra supports like income and housing. Each person has their own preferences and goals, and recovery plans should reflect that. Contact your local Canadian Mental Health Association branch to find help and support in your community. The Kids Help Phone is also an amazing organization. Build a healthy self-esteem: Self-esteem is more than just seeing your good qualities. It is being able to see all your abilities and weaknesses together, accepting them, and doing your best with what you have. Self-esteem means recognizing your unique talents and abilities, and using that confidence to follow your goals and interests without comparing yourself to others.

7 Activity: Build confidence: Take a good look at your good points. What do you do best? Where are your skills and interest areas? How would a friend describe you? Now, look at your weak points. What do you have difficulty doing? What things make you feel frustrated? Now, which list was easier to write? Remember that all of us have our positive and negative sides. We build confidence by developing our weaker areas and regularly reminding ourselves of the things we re comfortable with and proud of. Build positive support networks: Good relationships take effort, whether it s relationships with family members, friends, or other important supporters. It takes courage to reach out and time to build trust. But social support is a very important part of mental health. People in our networks can offer many different kinds of support, like emotional support, practical help, and alternate points of view. Support can come from family and friends, neighbours, co-workers or classmates, faith communities, clubs or support groups for specific problems. Activity: Make time: Make time to be with the important people in your life and do what you love. Make time for simply having fun and enjoying each other s company, and time for serious conversations. Focus on what makes you happy! Get involved: Being involved in things that really matter to us provides a great feeling of purpose and satisfaction. You make a difference, no matter how big or small your efforts. Getting involved connects you with others in your community who share similar interests or values and connects you to groups of people you might not normally meet. It can help you learn new skills, build confidence, and see your own experiences in a different way. Activity: Volunteer: Be a volunteer. Read to children at your local library, visit people in a hospital or care facility, serve on a committee or board of your favourite charity, clean up your favourite park or beach, or simply help a neighbour. Build resiliency: Resiliency means coping well with problems, stress, and other difficult situations. Problems and stress are a normal part of life. Situations like accidents or illness, unexpected life changes, and conflict happen to everyone. Resiliency is what helps you look at the situation realistically, take action when you can make changes, let go of things you can t change, and recognize the helpful supports in your life. Your resiliency toolkit might include skills like problem-solving, assertiveness, balancing obligations and expectations, and developing support networks. While some people learn these skills during treatment for mental health problems, we should really think of them as skills for everyone. You can learn more about these skills online, in books, through community organizations, or through your health care provider.

8 Activity: Build your own toolkit: Set aside time to think about the resiliency tools you already have. This might include skills like structured problem-solving or people who can help you during difficult situations. Remember to include strategies that have worked for you in the past. Keep your list on hand and use it as a reminder when you need help. It s also a good way to see where you might want to build new skills or supports. Recognize your emotions: Emotional well-being is not about being happy all the time. Feeling sad, angry, and anxious at times is part of being human. Emotional well-being involves expressing our emotions in a way that respects everyone. Bottling up our feelings doesn t respect our own experiences, just as lashing out because we feel angry may not respect others. Emotional well-being also includes recognizing what influences our emotions, discovering how our emotions affect the way we think or act, taking action when our emotional response isn t helpful, and learning to accept our emotions even the difficult ones. Activity: Identify and deal with your moods: Find out what makes you happy, sad, joyful or angry. What calms you down? Learn ways to deal with your moods. Share joyful news with a friend, and find support when you feel sad. Physical exercise can help you deal with your anger or anxiety. Keep a stack of your favourite funny cartoons, stories, or videos for times when you need to laugh. And don t forget the power of music to lift you up or calm you down. Take care of your spiritual well-being: Spiritual well-being means getting to know ourselves, discovering our values, and learning to be at peace with who we are. It also involves finding and connecting to something bigger than ourselves and living with purpose. Spirituality can give us meaning and solace, help us overcome challenges, and help us build connections with others. This may mean religion for some, but it doesn t have to it s really about how we feel on the inside. Activity: Connect with yourself: Set aside quiet, quality time to be totally alone. Try a breathing exercise: count your breaths from one to four, and then start at one again. Or do something you love to do, like dancing, going to a baseball game, building a bird house, going for a hike, or whatever works for you!

9 How can I help someone with a mental illness? What else can you, others, your school, and community do about mental health awareness? 1. Language matters: Words can help, but they can also hurt. Pay attention to the words you use. 2. Educate yourself: Learn the facts and myths about mental illness. Be knowledgeable and help fight stigma with facts. Understand early warning signs in yourself and others and know where to seek help 3. Be Kind: Small acts of kindness speak volumes. Treat a person who has a mental illness with the kindness and care you give to people with other illnesses through a friendly smile, a helping hand, a phone call or visit. 4. Listen: Sometimes it s best to just listen. Let them know they aren t alone and that you are there for them. 5. Talk about it: Start a dialogue, not a debate. Break the silence. Talk about how mental illness touches us all in some way directly or through a friend, family member or colleague. Stories of lived experience are the best way to help eradicate stigma. Support mental health and anti-stigma programs in your community. Talking is the best way to create meaningful change and build greater awareness, acceptance, and action. Mental illness affects everyone. People who experience a mental illness may face challenges in their communities. Capable workers may not find good employment. Housing may come with restrictions or may be limited by inadequate income. Many challenges around living with a mental illness have to do with unfair attitudes and discrimination. You can make a difference by advocating for people who experience mental illnesses. Let leaders and policymakers know that your community includes everyone, and support organizations that work to give everyone a voice. Facts: In Canada, only 1 out of 5 children who need mental health services receives them. At least 1 in 3 adolescent students in Canada have reported being bullied recently. Canada has the 9th highest rate of bullying in the 13-years-olds category on a scale of 35 countries.

10 Most of the time, bullying stops within 10 seconds when peers intervene, or do not support the bullying behaviour. 2 in 3 people suffer in silence fearing judgment and rejection. 1 in 5 Canadians will experience a form of mental illness at some point in their life. Only 49% of Canadians said they would socialize with a friend who has a serious mental illness. Mood and anxiety disorders impact an estimated 22% of the Canadian population. At this very moment, some 3 million Canadians are suffering from depression. Suicide accounts for 28% of all deaths among year-olds. Approximately 11 people will end their lives by suicide today and every day in Canada. On any given week, more than 500,000 Canadians will not go to work because of mental illness. Once depression is recognized, help can make a difference for 80% of people who are affected, allowing them to get back to their regular activities. 1 in 5 people have mental illness, 5 out of 5 people have mental health. We need to talk about it! You can make a difference! Let s make our world a better place! Resources: No Time for That Anti-Bullying Society Kids Help Phone Bullying.org Stop a Bully StopBullying.gov Canadian Mental Health Association Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Red Cross Bell Let's Talk