Choose Kind

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-field/kindness-research_b_7054652.html

Small actions can have a significant positive effect on others, including increased overall sense of belonging, self-worth and feelings of safety. Those who share kindness also benefit from higher overall feelings of well-being and self-worth.

Did you know…

• Giving and receiving kindness reduces stress, depression and anxiety.
• Sharing, experiencing and witnessing kindness helps us to feel calm and happy, which contributes to our overall health.
• You can be kind to yourself by focusing on things that make you feel confident and proud of yourself.
• Kindness is contagious!  When you are kind to someone, they feel good and are likely to be kind to others.  It starts a chain reaction of kindness!

Choose kind community toolbox

http://www.kindspring.org/ideas/

We challenge all community members to flood the internet with kindness . Capture and spread kindness using the hashtag #SCchooseKind

The month of February contains opportunities for us to support the community-driven social outcomes of safety, connectedness & inclusion and larger campaigns including:

• “Safer Internet Day is an invitation to join in and engage with others in a respectful way in order to ensure a safer digital experience. You can help by pledging to keep the internet a safer place for all. Go online and post your commitment to "Create, safe, supported and connected community. A better internet starts with you.”

• Choose Kind challenge: Join the challenge and step up your kindness and express your gratitude to others during the week. Help spread kindness and inspire others.
• For a list of kindness ideas check out randomactsofkindness.org

• THINK before you post or say something. Ask yourself if it is: True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary and KIND.
• Be a champion and show your support towards healthy relationships and ending bullying by wearing pink.
• Capture and spread kindness #SCchooseKind

• Bullying can happen wherever people gather to live, learn, work or play, online and off.
• Bullying is not rude or impolite behaviour. Being mean can be mistaken as bullying behaviour.
• Bullying is intentional, targeted, abusive behavior that causes harm to another person.
• Bullying is defined by the use of aggression, repeated over time, by a person with greater power towards a person with lesser power.
• Bullying is never acceptable. Everyone has the right to be treated with respect and to feel safe.

We can make a difference to those who are affected by abuse and bullying by letting them know they are not alone. Ninety percent of bullying incidents are witnessed by others and can be stopped within 10 seconds when bystanders choose to intervene.

What can you do when you see someone being bullied? Witnesses to bullying can help by not encouraging bullying, telling the bully to stop, getting help and supporting the person who is targeted.

The key to end bullying is to build awareness and understanding and promote respectful and healthy relationships.

Healthy relationships are built on a foundation of trust, safety and respect. We all want to feel safe and connected to others.

One way we can achieve this is by being kind and respectful to ourselves and to the people around us. In every moment, we have a choice about what we say and do. In that moment, choose acceptance and kindness.

When we practice kindness, compassion and respect for one another, we build connections in our relationships and communities. Together, we create a supported, safe and caring community for all.

• Counselling: Professional counselling, without appointments 
• • Counselling is available by walk-in during the day and some evenings
  • Pay what you can afford, starting at $0
  • Our team includes registered psychologists, social workers, credentialed volunteers and graduate students
  • You will leave sessions with an action plan and information to support you in achieving your goals
• Counselling Groups: Free, facilitated education and support counselling groups for adults 
  • All adults welcome
  • Snacks and coffee provided
  • Registration upon arrival
  • Open weekly to new participants
• Bullying Helpline
  24 hours, 7 days/week, help in over 170 languages
  1-888-456-2323
• Kids Help Phone 
  24 hours, 7 days/week 
  1-800-668-6868
• PREVNet
  A national network of leading researchers and organizations, working together to stop bullying in Canada