Bullying
Syllabus: Lamb et al. Approach to Bullying and Victimization. Canadian Family
Physician. 2009;55(4):356.
Introduction
• Defined as the use of power or aggression to cause distress or control
of another
• Can be direct (face‐to‐face) or indirect (gossip, exclusion)
• Negative actions can include:
o Physical actions (punching, kicking, biting)
o Verbal actions (threats, name calling, insults)
o Social exclusion (spreading rumours, gossiping, excluding)
• Actions are repeated and the intensity or duration establishes
dominance

History
• When a physician identifies a possible bullying situation, the following
questions can help determine what type of help may be appropriate
o Who do you bully/who bullys you?
o What do you do to others/what do others do to you? (e.g. gossiping,
insults, hitting, etc.)
o When and how often do you bully/are you bullied?
o Where do you bully/where are you bullied?
o Why do you bully others/why do you think you are bullied?
o How do you think the kids feel when you bully them or how do you
feel when you are bullied?
Management
• Comprehensive strategies that encompass the school, family and
community are most likely to be effective
o establish a social school environment that promotes safety
o provide access to health and mental health services
o integrate school, family and community prevention efforts
o provide training to enable school staff to promote safety and
prevent violence effectively