Resources for Youth
Youth in Labrador, share many similarities with youth from other towns, city's etc. when it comes to violence and its impact on a Youth's life. There are added challenges when growing up in rural and remote, isolated communities. Labrador communities range in diversity of culture, ethnicity, income, and way of life.
The purpose of this page is to provide Youth and Parents with access to information and services available within Labrador and outside that can help understand better what Youth Violence is and where to turn to find help.
The purpose of this page is to provide Youth and Parents with access to information and services available within Labrador and outside that can help understand better what Youth Violence is and where to turn to find help.
Defining Youth Violence
Youth violence happens when one or more people make the decision to hurt others, usually repeatedly and systematically, with the intention of causing undue harm, stress and fear.
"Bullying" has been a term used in schools and society for years. It is important to recognize, bullying is violence. some forms of bullying are against the law.
Some acts of youth violence include:
Youth violence can result in health problems, low self-esteem, terror, self-harm or suicide, anxiety, and crime.
"Bullying" has been a term used in schools and society for years. It is important to recognize, bullying is violence. some forms of bullying are against the law.
Some acts of youth violence include:
- Physical attacks and assaults
- Emotional abuse, name calling, starting rumors, gossiping
- Racist abuse -- harassed about language and or culture
- Exclusion -- leaving people out of a social circle
- Taking money and possessions
- Peer pressure and making threats
- Homophobia
- Sexual abuse and discrimination
- Cyber violence -- using technology to cause pain and stress
Youth violence can result in health problems, low self-esteem, terror, self-harm or suicide, anxiety, and crime.
Victims, Bystanders and Offenders
There are three distinct groups involved in youth violence; the Victim, the Bystander and the Offender.
The Victim suffers the harassment, threats and assaults from the Offender. If you are a victim, remember, no one has the right to hurt you and there is help:
The Bystander is the individuals who witness the violence. They may become a part of the violence, or feel sorry for the victim but feel helpless to make the violence stop.
The Offender, or Bully is the person causing undue harm to others through the above named acts. If you think this may be you:
Source: RNC (adopted from the STRIVE program) and VPI (Outrage.nl.ca campaign)
The Victim suffers the harassment, threats and assaults from the Offender. If you are a victim, remember, no one has the right to hurt you and there is help:
- Tell, tell, tell! Keep telling until someone listens
- Record the incidents. Keep track by writing it down
- The offenders usually are craving the reaction from the victim, stay calm
- Speak loud and firmly when you tell them to stop
- Take advantage of your friends and adults by staying close to them
The Bystander is the individuals who witness the violence. They may become a part of the violence, or feel sorry for the victim but feel helpless to make the violence stop.
- Make a difference in someone's life. Stand up and don't tolerate the violence.
- Refuse to join in or watch, this takes power away from the offender.
- Be a friend and look after each other. Befriend the person who seems to withdraw and is fearful.
The Offender, or Bully is the person causing undue harm to others through the above named acts. If you think this may be you:
- Seek help, talk to a counselor or someone you trust will help, you are not alone and you can make it stop
- Take responsibility for your actions, apologizing is ok
- Your actions are affecting the life of another individual. You can make a positive difference in someones life by leading without violence
Source: RNC (adopted from the STRIVE program) and VPI (Outrage.nl.ca campaign)
Cyberviolence
In this day of email, MSN, social networking sites, websites, blogs, texting… etc. There are so many tools that can be used to harass others and cause stress beyond the schoolyard.
This crosses new boundaries and can be overwhelming to victims, but there are ways to prevent this from happening to you:
If you find you are a victim of Cyberviolence:
Source: Cyberbullying.ca - visit for more detailed tips on preventing and responding tocCyberviolence.
This crosses new boundaries and can be overwhelming to victims, but there are ways to prevent this from happening to you:
- Never give out personal information or passwords, P.I.N. numbers etc.
- Don't believe everything you see or read
- Use Netiquette -Be polite to others online just as you would off-line
- Don't send a message to someone else when you are angry
- Don't open a message from someone you don't know - If in doubt about it, ask your parents, guardian or another adult
- If it doesn't look or feel right, it probably isn't
- You don't have to be "Always On" turn off, disconnect, unplug, try actual reality instead of virtual reality!
If you find you are a victim of Cyberviolence:
- Don't reply to messages from cyberbullies
- Do not keep this to yourself! You are NOT alone and you did NOT do anything to deserve this! Tell an adult you know and trust!
- Inform your Internet Service Provider (ISP) or cell phone/pager service provider
- Inform your local police
- Do not erase or delete messages from cyberbullies
- Protect yourself -Never arrange to meet with someone you met online unless your parents go with you. If you are meeting them make sure it is in a public place.
Source: Cyberbullying.ca - visit for more detailed tips on preventing and responding tocCyberviolence.
Who to Call in Labrador
Phone your local Police, Child Youth and Family Services or Kids Help line toll free number.
Click for a complete listing of Crisis Contact numbers for Labrador.
Links to Additional Information
The following are links to sites that will provide you with further information and support for youth involved in Youth Violence:
Click for a complete listing of Crisis Contact numbers for Labrador.
Links to Additional Information
The following are links to sites that will provide you with further information and support for youth involved in Youth Violence:
- The Provincial Violence Prevention Initiative's website on youth violence has great links, information and contact numbers.
- The Nechi site is a wealth of information for Aboriginal youth on topics of abuse and addictions.
- BullyingCanada is a website created by victims of youth violence. Young people speaking out about bullying and victimization. Youth who know that one out of 4 kids are bullied, one out of 5 kids are the bully and that 282,000 high school kids are attacked each month nationally. Youth can share stories and connect with volunteers who can help and understand first hand what it means to be a victim of youth violence.
- Choose Respect is an initiative to help adolescents form healthy relationships to prevent dating abuse before it starts. This national effort is designed to motivate adolescents to challenge harmful beliefs about dating abuse and take steps to form respectful relationships.
Information for Parents
Parents want their children to grow up in healthy and safe homes, schools and communities. As children age and enter the school system and venture out into society, all of our efforts can not always prevent them from becoming a victim of violence.
The most important thing you can do as a parent is, first of all acknowledge your child's feelings and tell them they have the right to feel safe and violence is not acceptable.
Tell the authorities where the bullying is taking place, whether it is in school, with a sports team, or other organized activities, or tell the parent or guardian of the offender or bully.
Should you find you have tried everything and are getting no results for your child, call the local RCMP or RNC in your area. Click here for our complete listing of Crisis Contact Information.
Click here for more information on Bullying and what you can do.
The RCMP can sometimes, based on individual cases, recommend the Community Justice Forum. This program is widely used in Labrador and can be very effective.
Click here for more information on the Community Justice Forum
The most important thing you can do as a parent is, first of all acknowledge your child's feelings and tell them they have the right to feel safe and violence is not acceptable.
Tell the authorities where the bullying is taking place, whether it is in school, with a sports team, or other organized activities, or tell the parent or guardian of the offender or bully.
Should you find you have tried everything and are getting no results for your child, call the local RCMP or RNC in your area. Click here for our complete listing of Crisis Contact Information.
Click here for more information on Bullying and what you can do.
The RCMP can sometimes, based on individual cases, recommend the Community Justice Forum. This program is widely used in Labrador and can be very effective.
Click here for more information on the Community Justice Forum
Role Model
Children learn from their parents how to behave, react and cope with many social situations. Learning positive social skills can teach children how to react to others, deal with conflict, encourage confidence and most importantly respect for others.
The following links provide information on how you can positively impact how your child behaves and treats others. One of the most important ways we can begin to end violence is in the home, one child at a time.
Become Informed:Links to Help You Learn More
Education is key, learning more about how to keep your children safe and what your alternatives are not only helps to deal with violence, but preventing it from happening in the first place.
The following sites include information for parents of children who may be victims or are bullies. They offer advice on how to appropriately handle the situation.
Children learn from their parents how to behave, react and cope with many social situations. Learning positive social skills can teach children how to react to others, deal with conflict, encourage confidence and most importantly respect for others.
The following links provide information on how you can positively impact how your child behaves and treats others. One of the most important ways we can begin to end violence is in the home, one child at a time.
- USA Department of Health and Human Services - National Mental Health Information Center document - Parent: Be a Role Models for your Children.
- University of Minnesota Extension - College of Human Ecology Handout: Setting a Good Example
- United States Family Violence Prevention Fund document: Coaching Boys into Men
Become Informed:Links to Help You Learn More
Education is key, learning more about how to keep your children safe and what your alternatives are not only helps to deal with violence, but preventing it from happening in the first place.
The following sites include information for parents of children who may be victims or are bullies. They offer advice on how to appropriately handle the situation.
- Website of Government of Newfoundland and Labrador's Violence Prevention Initative: Outrage NL - Talking about Violence
- The Canadian Children's Rights Council Inc. - Information for parents about bullying
- The United Kingdom Bullying UK
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health - Tips for Parents On Building Healthy Relationships with their Teenagers
- Bullying.org Canada Inc. - Cyberbullying website
