Bullying can have severe negative consequences for its victims, including depression and anxiety, physical illnesses, a diminished quality of life and much more, which in some cases, may last a lifetime.

However, bullying can be prevented if we all make a commitment to creating safe and positive environments for everyone.

An essential part of that involves being an ally for those who are being bullied, according to LeeAnn Poisson, the WECDSB’s Principal of Safe Schools.

“When you’re an ally, it means you're willing to stand up for somebody who is being hurt or needs help,” she said. “Instead of  joining in, or being a bystander, if it’s safe enough to do and you feel confident, you can tell people to stop, that you’re hurting them, that this isn’t right. You can support the person who is being bullied, you can be a friend, and you can be the one who reports it and gets them the help they need.”

Nov. 21-27 is Bullying Prevention and Awareness Week in Ontario and schools throughout the WECDSB will do their part to raise awareness about the issue and work towards stopping it.

“It’s a great opportunity to highlight all the proactive measures and interventions that we’re doing in our schools all year long,” Poisson said “and give our students some reminders about bullying and their role in creating a safe and positive school environment.”