Bullying and Cyber-Bullying

Whether it happens in the schoolyard or online, bullying can be devastating for a child and for parents struggling to help stop it. Dr. Lila Amirali, a psychiatrist at The Montreal Children's Hospital, talks about recognizing the signs of bullying in children and what can be done about it.
Are there some key signs that parents can look out for, if they suspect that their child is being bullied?

Are there some key signs that parents can look out for, if they suspect that their child is being bullied?

Dr. Amirali: Some of the most common characteristics would be a child that has diminished interest in something that they liked before, the child that has become more withdrawn, that has started becoming anxious about going to school or frequenting a certain environment, because sometimes it may not be in the school environment. When asked sometimes by the parents, or even their peers, or their siblings as to the reason, initially they may not divulge that information, because they don’t feel well about themselves, or they will hide it for different reasons. So yes, parents should be alerted to the fact that bullying is very common today, that it does exist, and they should be persistent in trying to find out what is going on.
What can parents do, if they suspect their child is being bullied?

What can parents do, if they suspect their child is being bullied?

Dr. Amirali: They should, with their attitude and approach, try to come back again and again, and try to observe and bring up their observations, and at the same time, not show any kind of judgement. The approach should be with warmth and understanding, and, as much as possible, exploratory rather than judgemental in any kind of sense.
If a child confirms that they are being bullied, what are the best courses of action to take?

If a child confirms that they are being bullied, what are the best courses of action to take?

Dr. Amirali: The action should be immediate. If the child confirms to a parent that they are being bullied, more often than not - especially with the younger children - just the involvement of the parent, for example, depending on which environment it happens, the fact that the parent may alert the other adult who is supervising that particular environment, may have a positive effect right away. If the teacher or teachers are not responsive, the parent should go to the principal, and if the principal and the school are not responsible or are not sufficient to contain the problem, all school boards have services, and there is always a way to go higher and higher. Especially if there is any evidence of the bullying, let’s say cyber-bullying, something that can be documented, it is a criminal act, and somebody could go as far as calling the police.