February 23, 2026
Wednesday February 25, 2026 is Canada’s annual Pink Shirt Day. The purpose of Pink Shirt Day is to raise awareness about the emotional and psychological harm caused by bullying, to validate those who have been affected by bullying, and to encourage empathy, prevention, and healing.
According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, bullying is defined as: “the abuse and mistreatment of someone vulnerable by someone vulnerable by someone stronger or more powerful.” Bullying can take on numerous forms that include social bullying through exclusion or spreading rumors about someone, verbal bullying through teasing or threatening someone, physical bullying that can involve pushing, damaging belongings, or any form of physical harm, and cyberbullying which involves online harassment.
Bullying should NOT be viewed as a “normal” experience that all people go through. Though bullying may be a common experience, it should not be normalized, which leads people to treat bullying as inevitable, unpreventable, “not a big deal.” Bullying can be extremely harmful, and we should always be working towards reducing the prevalence of bullying.

Bullying can happen to anyone, at any age, in any place. Bullying can occur at school, at home, in the workplace, or in other social spaces. Experiencing bullying does not make you weak or less than, it means that another person is being mean.
Bullying can lead to many poor mental health outcomes, such as:

When experiencing bullying it is important to talk to someone safe and supportive. This might be a teacher, a parent, a friend, a sibling, a coworker, couch, or someone else that you trust. Getting professional support from a therapist can be a safe place to process trauma, have your experiences validated, and come up with strategies to deal with difficult people or safety concerns. Therapy can also help to rebuild self-worth and self-confidence, even if the experience of bullying was years in the past.
Other coping strategies to help with the difficult experience of bullying include:
We can all help to break the cycle of bullying by:

Bullying is NEVER the result of personal failure or weakness, but a reflection of the other person. Healing is possible by talking to safe people in your life and getting professional support from a therapist. The significant and long-lasting effects of bullying on mental health are not “dramatic” or an exaggeration, but a serious reality that can deeply affect a person’s sense of self and mental well-being. We should all do our part to raise awareness about bullying, be a safe space for the people in our lives, and remember that healing is possible!
Words and actions can leave lasting impressions, but so can compassion, understanding, and support. If you or someone you know is struggling with bullying, we are here to support you! Visit our website our website to learn more or to book your free consultation today. You can also get in touch by email at info@througthewoods.ca or by phone at (403) 984 7922.
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If you are experiencing a crisis, or having thoughts of harming yourself or others, please call 911 or go immediately to the emergency department of your local hospital.