By Mara Hurst

Cyberbullying can be extremely difficult to deal with, especially if you feel alone. Luckily there are many resources out there to help a person through it. Here are some helplines and resources for you to use if you or a loved one is experiencing cyberbullying. And remember, if anyone is in immediate danger of hurting themselves or others, do not be afraid to call 911.

Helpines

BullyingCanada
This national anti-bullying charity has been working directly with students and families affected by bullying since 2006. The organization offers a 24/7 lifeline for individuals to reach out about their own experiences; BullyingCanada has volunteers that provide counselling and mediation to solve the problem directly. They also have a National Scholarship Program aimed at helping youth become community leaders who can tackle bullying in their own school.

Stop A Bully
Since 2009, this B.C. resource has been working to provide students and youth a place to anonymously report bullying. Students across the country have reported instances of bullying. The site has provided its member schools with resources and information to help address the issue. The website also features numerous anti-bullying materials, news, and resources for teachers.

Kids Help Phone
Kids Help Phone has been around for over 30 years, and provides 24/7 e-mental health services for children and youth across Canada in both English and French. Callers can request help related to bullying, cyberbullying, and other mental health issues. There are volunteer crisis responders and professional counsellors ready to assist you.

Resources

UNICEF
The United Nations Children’s Fund is an international agency devoted to children worldwide. Their resource on cyber-bullying has plenty of helpful information for both youth and adults. This includes an overview on the effects of cyberbullying and how to reach out for help online. There are also steps that can be taken to make social media sites such as Facebook and Instagram safer to use and make one less likely to experience bullying.

HelpGuide
This resource takes a look at the different types of bullying and how they can impact children and youth in numerous ways. It also addresses why a bully might do what they do, and how students can respond to being bullied. These tips include things they can do on their own, as well as how to reach out for help. There is also advice for parents and teachers to help them better understand cyberbullying situations and how to respond when their child or student is dealing with the problem.

Cyberbullying is an extremely complex and difficult issue. Bullying itself has always been a challenge for youth and adults alike; the technological and online aspects of cyberbullying add whole new dimensions to the problem. Fortunately, this same technology also offers plenty of support systems through different organizations and websites. The ones listed above are a great start, but there are far more out there. It is important to reach out to these resources, as well as parents and trusted adults. Remember that you are not alone.