VICTORIA - A new survey reveals surprising perceptions on bullying in Canada amidst Pink Shirt Day, a day dedicated to eradicating it.
Nearly half of Canadian parents with kids who are in currently in school say their child has been bullied. This is according to new findings from the Angus Reid Institute.
The online survey shows an overwhelming majority, nearly 90%, of Canadians feel bullies need to be dealt with much more severely, and 75% of them don't believe it will ever end, agreeing with the statement 'bullying is never going to go away, no matter what new policies of approaches are tried.'
Just how much of an impact can bullying have? The survey showed one fifth of Canadian adults say bullying they experienced in school left a lasting and serious impact.
The response was split on how well Canadians feel schools are responding to bullying. And a strong majority say the issue is serious, with 47% saying it's 'very serious, it should receive more attention than it does' and 42% saying 'serious' with only 3% saying 'not serious at all, it's been overblown.'
This bleak outlook on bullying is met with some optimism. One thing of importance to note is how reporting has changed over the years. Only 15% of adults who responded and who were bullied in school said it was reported to the school, and they said awareness was low. Now, parents whose children are currently in school said reporting bullying and awareness have drastically increased.
A majority believe the prevalence of bullying is declining. And days such as 'Pink Shirt Day' may be a big factor.
February 25 is dedicated to making a visible stand against bullying, raising awareness for the issue, and promoting resources available for victims. The idea started from two high school students in Nova Scotia who wore pink to stand up for a Grade 9 student who was bullied for wearing the colour. Now, on this day, you'll likely see a sea of pink across the country.
Learn how to take part in Pink Shirt Day and see more online tips for reporting bullying.
*The online survey polled 1511 randomly selected Angus Reid Forum panelists and adult Canadians, between February 18-19, 2015. It carries a margin of error of +/- 2.5%, 19 times out of 20.
