Safe Online, United Offline: MPCPC in Action
Bullying and cyberbullying can affect anyone, and their impact can be deeply personal and long-lasting. Feeling unsafe, unheard, or isolated is something no one in our community should experience alone. At the Mount Pleasant Community Policing Centre, we believe that building a safe and respectful community begins with supporting one another. By promoting kindness, awareness, and responsible behaviour both online and in person, we work toward creating an environment where everyone feels valued and protected.
We are here to help by providing practical resources, information, and guidance. This includes educational materials about recognizing bullying and cyberbullying, tips on staying safe online, guidance on how to report harmful behaviour, and information about where to get help. We also connect individuals and families with local support services, community programs, and trusted organizations that can provide additional assistance. Our goal is to make it easy for people to find support and know what steps they can take when they need help.
What Is Cyberbullying and Why Does It Matter?
Cyberbullying refers to the act of using technology such as computers, smartphones, or any other device that's connected online to embarrass, intimidate, harass, or otherwise harm a person living on the Internet (UNICEF, 2023). This includes using online technologies to spread false rumours, send threatening or hurtful messages or private images without permission, impersonate someone else, or repeatedly target a person through text messaging and social media (UNICEF, 2023).
Unlike traditional bullying, cyberbullying does not end when the school or workday is over. It can follow individuals into their homes, appear on personal devices at any time, and spread quickly to wide audiences. Harmful posts or images may remain online for long periods, making the impact ongoing and difficult to escape (UNICEF, 2023).
Cyberbullying can significantly impact mental health, self-esteem, relationships, and overall safety (Public Safety Canada, 2022; UNICEF, 2023). In today's increasingly technological society, promoting safe Internet use is essential to creating a respectful and safe community.
The Impact of Bullying and Cyberbullying
Bullying, whether in person or online, can have serious and lasting effects. Victims may experience anxiety, depression, isolation, declining academic or work performance, or withdrawal from social activities. In more severe cases, bullying has been linked to self-harm, sleep disturbance, psychiatric symptoms, and long-term emotional trauma (Bozduman Çelebi & Cambaz Kurt, 2018).
Cyberbullying intensifies these harms because content spreads quickly and may feel impossible to remove. The anonymity of the internet can encourage harmful behaviour that might not occur face-to-face (Bozduman Çelebi & Cambaz Kurt, 2018).
Cyberbullying can also have serious legal consequences. Sharing intimate images without consent, criminal harassment, uttering threats, intimidation, identity theft, and other online offences are crimes under Canada’s Criminal Code (Public Safety Canada, 2024). Those found guilty may face imprisonment, fines, or seizure of devices used in the offence. For example, sharing intimate images without consent can result in up to five years in prison, mandatory removal of the images, and reimbursement to the victim for related costs (Public Safety Canada, 2024).
The impact of bullying does not only affect the victim. It can also cause stress for families, create problems in schools and workplaces, and reduce trust and safety within communities. Preventing and addressing bullying helps build healthier and safer communities for everyone (Public Safety Canada, 2022).
Why Awareness Alone Is Not Enough
Awareness helps reduce stigma and encourages conversation about bullying (Public Safety Canada, 2022). However, awareness without action does not create meaningful change.
Simply knowing that cyberbullying exists does not teach prevention strategies or provide tools for parents, youth, and bystanders to respond safely. Real progress requires proactive education, prevention, and collaboration (Public Safety Canada, 2022).
Support Resources for Cyberbullying
If you or someone you know is experiencing cyberbullying, support is available. Several trusted Canadian organizations offer confidential help, guidance, and reporting options:
Kids Help Phone: Youth can contact Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 or text 686868 for free, confidential 24/7 support.
Cybertip.ca: Online exploitation or harmful content can be reported to Canada’s national tip line for internet safety.
NeedHelpNow.ca: Teens seeking help with the removal or stopping the spread of images or videos can use this resource for support.
Public Safety Canada: Offers national resources for families and educators to understand and address cyberbullying effectively.
Seeking help early can make a meaningful difference.
What Families and Individuals Can Do
Preventing cyberbullying is a shared responsibility. Families and individuals play a crucial role.
Parents and guardians can:
Maintain open, non-judgmental communication about online experiences
Learn about the platforms their children use
Encourage respectful digital behaviour
Monitor privacy settings together
Take reports of bullying seriously
Youth can:
Pause before posting or sharing content
Speak up when they witness bullying
Use reporting tools on platforms
Seek support from trusted adults
Community members can:
Promote respectful dialogue
Share educational resources
Participate in workshops and outreach events
Small, consistent actions build safer digital environments.
Our Commitment Is Ongoing
Pink Shirt Day is an important reminder to stand up against bullying, but our work does not begin and end on a single day. Preventing cyberbullying requires continuous education, awareness, and community involvement. At the Mount Pleasant Community Policing Centre, we are committed to strengthening our programs, building partnerships with schools and community organizations, and updating our resources as technology evolves. By investing in education and outreach throughout the year, we aim to promote respectful behaviour online and offline, prevent harm before it occurs, and help create a safer, more supportive community for everyone.
A Call to Action
We invite residents, families, schools, and community organizations to join us.
Attend one of our workshops.Partner with us for a school or community event.Share our resources.Volunteer with our programs.Start conversations at home and in your networks.
Creating a safe and respectful community both online and offline requires collective effort.If you would like to collaborate, attend a workshop, or learn more about our initiatives, please contact the Mount Pleasant Community Policing Centre. We welcome your involvement and partnership.
By Catherine Joe Abraham - Volunteer, Mount Pleasant Community Policing Centre
References:
Bozduman Çelebi, S., & Cambaz Kurt, N. (2018). Bullying and cyberbullying among adolescents: Associations with somatic symptoms, psychiatric symptoms, and sleep disturbance. Journal of Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 30(2), 1–10.
Public Safety Canada. (2022). Bullying and cyberbullying. Retrieved from https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca
Public Safety Canada. (2024). Legal consequences of cyberbullying. Retrieved from https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca
UNICEF. (2023). Cyberbullying: What is it and how to stop it. Retrieved from https://www.unicef.org/
Mount Pleasant Community Policing Centre. (n.d.). Programs. Retrieved from https://mpcpc.ca/programs