Bullying is a significant public health problem in the country with approximately 1 in 3 children reporting being bullied. To effectively address the problem research shows we need a systemic response – supporting individuals, families, schools, communities, and developing and implementing effective provincial and federal. Through partnerships, PREVNet leads a societal intervention by co-creating resources to enhance the practices of those involved in the lives of children and youth.
Establishing a Highly Effective Knowledge Mobilization Network
Since its founding, PREVNet has reached over 20 million people. PREVNet’s key messages are cited on 100,000+ websites.
With our partners, we co-created over 150 resources to reach adults who work with children and youth, and children and youth themselves.
14+ years
since we started
100 000+
websites cite our key messages
150+
resources co-created
10
annual conferences hosted
Reducing bullying, delivering impactful results!
Bullying is a significant public health problem in the country with approximately 1 in 3 children reporting being bullied. To effectively address the problem research shows we need a systemic response – supporting individuals, families, schools, communities, and developing and implementing effective provincial and federal. Through partnerships, PREVNet leads a societal intervention by co-creating resources to enhance the practices of those involved in the lives of children and youth.
Dr. Debra Pepler, a Researcher and Professor at York University gives a TEDx talk on the importance of healthy relationships on the genes and developing minds of children.
Highlighting the Importance of Healthy Relationships
The central tenet of PREVNet is that bullying is a relationship problem that requires relationship solutions. Dr. Pepler proposed this as the framing for PREVNet’s work and it has directed and influenced all the work in PREVNet. She explains the critical importance of healthy relationships on the genes and developing minds of children in her TEDx York University talk “How Can We Grow Healthy Children?” Bullying as a relationship problem is now internationally accepted as central to understanding bullying and provides strong guidance on how to intervene. Through PREVNet’s work, the focus on healthy relationships is now forefront of prevention science, youth development, and public health policy in Canada and beyond.
Annual Reports
Highlights from our annual reports that share information about our impact.
Notable Projects
Trainings, tools, campaigns and other successful projects we’ve produced.
Identity-Based Bullying Online Training for Educators
PREVNet has created an online training for educators to help them better understand how to prevent and respond to identity-based bullying. Identity-based bullying happens when someone is bullied because of who they are in society, or said another way, their ‘social identity’. Social identity can include any combination of gender, ability, sexual orientation, race, religion, body size and shape and more. These are just a few examples.
Our teen dating violence online training modules are helpful for school staff working with children and youth. These modules share insights on how youth experience teen dating violence and the outcomes. It provides information on how you can respond to student disclosures of dating violence in an effective and trauma-informed way.
Empower your classroom with our comprehensive tip sheets and videos on youth interpersonal violence. These resources are created to provide educators and school staff with practical strategies, insights, and real-world tips. Download various resources to better understand youth interpersonal violence, and how you can help prevent it in schools.
Each province and territory has their own legislation or policies to address the issue. Learn more about how the law deals with youth dating violence in your province or territory and your rights and responsibilities as a youth, parent/caregiver, or educator.
Bullying Policy and Legislation
Canadian federal criminal law addresses cyberbullying. In 2015, the criminal code was updated to include a new offence to share intimate images of a person without consent. Each province and territory defines bullying differently and all have their own legislation or policies to address the issue. Learn more about how the law deals with bullying in your province or territory and your rights and responsibilities as a parent and an educator.
References
[1] Craig, W., Lambe, L., & McIvor, T. (2016). Bullying and fighting. In J. G. Freeman, M. King, & W. Pickett (eds.), Health behaviour in school-aged children (HBSC) in Canada: Focus on relationships (pp. 167–182). Ottawa, ON: Public Health Agency Canada. Available from the Government of Canada website.
