Cultivating a community of kindness and standing up to bullying

A message from Richard Jock, Chief Executive Officer; and Dr. Nel Wieman, Chief Medical Officer

Pink Shirt Day (Feb. 26) is a time to think about how we can contribute to cultivating a community of kindness and inclusivity, and how we can stand against the serious public health problem of bullying in schools, workplaces, homes, online and virtually every setting where people come together.

At the First Nations Health Authority (FNHA), many of us wear pink shirts on this day to publicly signify that we believe bullying in any form, including words and acts of racism or homophobia, are unacceptable. This year, as you can see in the accompanying photo/s, our pink shirts have the saying, “Practice Lateral Kindness,” to remind each other of the importance of cultivating and upholding a culture of kindness, inclusivity, and respect at our workplace.

“Lateral Kindness” is about coming together to support and uplift one another and to gather strength. We believe it is the antidote to bullying within our own communities, against each other, which is known as “Lateral Violence.” Please see more information about these concepts here and at the links below this message.

As FNHA Elder Syexwaliya says, “We are all connected, and what happens to one happens to all.” She stresses that lateral violence, or bullying, is therefore not just a problem between individuals, but one that affects every single person in a community. A healthy community is one that supports each community member’s well-being, encourages healthy relationships, prioritizes treating others with respect and fairness, and does not tolerate bullying. This is what we strive for at the FNHA.

Healthy communities bring people together and offer support to everyone. A community can be the people at your school, workplace, the people who share your activities or interests, or simply the place you live.

How can we contribute to a healthy community?

If you see someone being bullied – treated unkindly at work, school, online, or elsewhere, you can take a stand by:

• Speaking up.
• Asking the person who is being bullied if they need help.
• Refusing to join in—don’t like or repost something that could hurt someone.
• Reporting bullying to your manager, HR department, teacher, parent, or caregiver. You can report bullying at school anonymously at www.reportbullyingbc.ca.

If you are experiencing bullying, and need help or someone to talk to, you can call the 24-Hour KUU-US Crisis Line at 1-800-588-8717 or the Kids’ Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868.

For more information about using Lateral Kindness to address Lateral Violence, see these resources:

• From Lateral Violence to Lateral Kindness
• Using Lateral Kindness against Lateral Violence in the Workplace
• Let’s use Lateral Kindness to “lift each other up”
• Supportive Systems for Lateral Violence and Bullying

ERASE Bullying
Visit www.erasebullying.ca to learn more about bullying and how to deal with bullies. Parents can find tips for working with schools. You’ll find BC resources for young people and parents, and you can learn more about the anonymous reporting tool.

Youth Against Violence
Call 1-800-680-4264 at any time to talk with a support worker. This phone line is for young people and any adult who is concerned about a young person. They can help if you’re concerned about a young person’s safety and they can connect you to the police anonymously, if needed. To learn more, visit www.youthagainstviolenceline.com.

Kids Help Phone
Call 1-800-668-6868 to talk with a counsellor at any time. It’s free, confidential, and anonymous. You can also visit www.kidshelpphone.ca to talk with someone online through a web form or live chat or find more information. Kids Help Phone is for people up to the age of 20.

Healthy Schools BC
This resource lists different programs or services that support healthy schools. You’ll find lots of resources for bullying and many other issues that affect your life at school, like relationships and school connectedness. You can learn more at www.healthyschoolsbc.ca.

Visit www.youthinbc.com to chat online with a volunteer (every day from 12 p.m. to 1 a.m.). You can also talk with someone at any time at 1-866-661-3311 or 604-872-3311 (in the Lower Mainland). You’ll find information on bullying and BC resources on their website.

NT5