A University of Winnipeg psychology student has developed a guide to help teachers identify the signs of bullying.
Harrison Oakes's anti-bullying guide was released earlier this fall, weeks before the issue of bullying resurfaced with the death of B.C. teenager Amanda Todd, who committed suicide last week following years of exploitation online and bullying by her peers.
Oakes said while it's good that people are now talking about bullying, and discussing ways to prevent it, there is still a long way to go.
The guide is designed to help teachers become aware of the potential signs of bullying in students, including:
Being afraid to go to school.
Appearing anxious at school.
Complaining of feeling unwell.
The guide states that more than 1.1 million students are bullied every week in Canada.
Oakes said he himself was bullied in high school, prompting him to drop out for 1.5 years. He even attempted suicide at one point because of the bullying, he said.
Now 28 years old, Oakes said he is in a much better place, in part thanks to a supportive adult who helped buffer the negative effects of bullying.
Next month will mark the 10th anniversary of Bullying Awareness Week. This year, it will be held from Nov. 12-18.