Hay River mother Trinda Rodger says her son is a SA国际影视传媒済entle giantSA国际影视传媒� who SA国际影视传媒渏ust wants to get along with everybody.SA国际影视传媒�

Unfortunately, the 14-year-old experiences relentless bullying at school and at his part-time job.

SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 just been ongoing,SA国际影视传媒� said Rodger. SA国际影视传媒淚 told [my son], no matter how old you are, if youSA国际影视传媒檙e an adult or a child, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 always going to be bullies out there. YouSA国际影视传媒檝e just got to choose how you handle it. You can freak out and lash out and say mean and spiteful things, or you can handle it like a decent person. ThatSA国际影视传媒檚 what I try to teach him, and he understood, but yeah, it hurts his little heart.SA国际影视传媒�

Rodger said their are numerous recent examples of the bullying her son experiences.

At school, heSA国际影视传媒檚 been stabbed with a pencil and told to hang himself. At work, heSA国际影视传媒檚 been treated so poorly that he thought about quitting, despite having his position for nearly a year. In other settings, heSA国际影视传媒檚 been bullied so severely that Rodger was forced to involve the police.

SA国际影视传媒淚SA国际影视传媒檝e gone to the a couple times,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 not a good feeling, but you know, it has to stop. You have to put your foot down.SA国际影视传媒�

Rodger said itSA国际影视传媒檚 heartbreaking to see her son treated so badly by other teens. She isnSA国际影视传媒檛 sure why it happens.

SA国际影视传媒淟ike I said, heSA国际影视传媒檚 a gentle giant. Maybe his peers think heSA国际影视传媒檚 an easy target and they pick on him. Maybe theySA国际影视传媒檙e jealous because he works hard and he saves money and he has things.

SA国际影视传媒淚 have no idea.SA国际影视传媒�

Worried every day

In Fort Simpson, a mother who asked to remain anonymous said her teenage daughter has experienced similar things at the communitySA国际影视传媒檚 Liidlii Kue Regional High School, specifically SA国际影视传媒済lares, name calling, gossip and drama.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚t brought her self-esteem down,SA国际影视传媒� the Fort Simpson mother said. SA国际影视传媒淸It affected] her mental health, with the depression that my teenager faces every day. It also affected her social life.

SA国际影视传媒淒o I worry about my teenager? Yes, I do SA国际影视传媒榗ause today suicide [rates are] high. Do I worry every day? Yes, I do. My teenager has a good heart. ISA国际影视传媒檓 not saying my teenager is perfect, but I talk to her every day. I check in.SA国际影视传媒�

The girlSA国际影视传媒檚 mother believes bullying is SA国际影视传媒渆verywhereSA国际影视传媒� in the NWT and Canada, and the problem is exacerbated by the existence of the internet.

SA国际影视传媒淭oday bullying is worse because of social media,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淎s a teenager today itSA国际影视传媒檚 way different from back then.SA国际影视传媒�

Part of the solution to the bullying problem, she believes, is a firmer stance from educators.

SA国际影视传媒淪chools need to be strict about bullying,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淭oday I see too much bullying happening in schools. I myself would like to see more standing up from the teachers to protect our students.

SA国际影视传媒淪chools need to notify the parents right away, not wait till the last minute, and set a [stricter] policy about bullying.SA国际影视传媒�

In Hay River, Rodger shares that sentiment, though she admits her sonSA国际影视传媒檚 school, Diamond Jenness Secondary School, is SA国际影视传媒渦sually pretty good,SA国际影视传媒� about responding to bullying incidents.

Both mothers also agree that parents need to raise their children not to be bullies.

SA国际影视传媒淲e need to stand up together to stop bullying,SA国际影视传媒� the Fort Simpson mother said. SA国际影视传媒淣o teenager or child should go through bullying. Parents need to work together, and not just talk once about the bullying, but remind their children that bullying is not OK. As a parent myself, I talk to my teenager often about bullying.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淚 just think [parents] have got to teach and talk to their children, just basic kindness and how to be a good human being no matter what,SA国际影视传媒� Rodger added. SA国际影视传媒淸They need to teach their children to] always communicate, to try to resolve the issue instead of being hateful and spiteful and mean, because itSA国际影视传媒檚 so easy to be like that, but it takes a bigger person to say, SA国际影视传媒楬ow are we going to fix this problem?SA国际影视传媒橲A国际影视传媒�

Pink Shirt Day, an anti-bullying initiative, is recognized on Feb. 28. Its mission is to SA国际影视传媒渃reate a more kind, inclusive world.SA国际影视传媒�