Thank you, Mr. Speaker. What is the science of measuring bullying? Actually, I scoured the Internet, I Googled medical reports and I used Wikipedia for everything out there and there isn’t a science name for measuring bullying.
So today I have the luxury of presenting the newest term in the English language for the science that measures bullying, and that name is “bullyology.” I have an audition later today with the CBC’s Dragon’s Den.
---Laughter
There have been almost two decades of data on bullyology on our children. Even last week, the JAMA published findings that are most definitive in establishing long-term psychological effects of bullying. The analysis of these recent findings took into account a sample of 1,420 children from North Carolina. The kids were nine, 11 and 13 years of age.
The objective of the study was to test whether bullying or being bullied in childhood predicts psychiatric problems in young adolescents. The children, their parents and caregivers were interviewed each year until the youngster turned 16, and then periodically thereafter.
The findings clearly show that those who have been bullied, plus those who were both victims and aggressors, were at higher risk of psychiatric disorders compared to those with no history of being bullied. The ones identified solely as victims had a higher level of depression disorders, anxiety disorders, generalized anxiety, panic disorders and agoraphobia.
These bullyology results should be of no surprise to anyone, and it is clear that the psychological damage doesn’t go away as you mature, as the effects of being bullied are direct and long lasting.
Today is one day we give victims of bullying our attention, but it should be noted we should give every day to these victims and it will only happen through community support and future legislation.
Let me say again, legislation will only be one tool in our anti-bullying tool belt. Together, parents, educators and communities will still need to stay active and take an active stand on our kids’ behaviour at school, at play and on social networks.
Mr. Speaker, I have said this now a number of times in this House, but it is worth repeating. It won’t be easy, but together we must change behaviour and together we must. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Dolynny. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
