be kind
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be kind .
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47% of Canadian parents have reported that their child or youth has been the victim of bullying.
In a world where you can be anything, be kind.
Claire Pooley
Why This Campaign? Why Now?
At Lynwood Charlton Centre, we see every day how the foundation of mental health is built in childhood and adolescence. We also see how that foundation can be cracked by bullying—a destructive relationship problem that too many young people endure in silence.
We launched this campaign because bullying is not a harmless rite of passage. It is a significant risk factor for anxiety, depression, academic disengagement, and profound suffering that can alter life trajectories. In a world where young people face immense pressures, creating spaces of unwavering safety and respect is not optional; it is essential to their growth and well-being.
Kindness is the foundation of empathy and healing, and hope grows where and when communities come together.
Why it matters:
The ripple effect of kindness
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A moment of kindness or an effective intervention can be a lifeline. It signals, "You are not alone, and you do not deserve this." This intervention can disrupt the cycle of shame and fear, opening a path to safety and support.
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Mental health is community health.
Bullying undermines the sense of safety and belonging for everyone—students, staff, and families. By championing kindness, we strengthen the very fabric of our community. We build a culture where "upstanders" are the norm, and everyone feels accountable for the well-being of those around them.
When we protect the mental well-being of our young people, we are investing in a stronger, more resilient, and hopeful Hamilton for all.
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The relationship patterns learned in youth echo into adulthood. By teaching healthy, respectful, and kind ways of interacting now, we are not just solving a school problem; we are fostering the empathetic leaders, collaborative colleagues, and supportive partners of tomorrow.
Bullying thrives in isolation—the isolation of the person being targeted, the bystander who feels powerless to help, and even the young person bullying, who is often acting from a place of their own unmet needs.
We’re targeting that isolation at its root by focusing on connection, empathy, and collective responsibility.
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In an average Ontario classroom of 35 students, we can expect that 4 to 6 of them are either being bullied or are bullying others.
This campaign is our proactive, community-wide commitment to moving beyond awareness and into action.
"Be Kind. Help Hope Grow." is not a standalone initiative. It is a declaration that as Hamilton’s Lead Agency for child and youth mental health, we will actively nurture the environments where our children and youth can thrive. It is a direct expression of who we are and why we exist.
How This Campaign Fulfills Our Mission and Role:
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We cannot build strength on a foundation of fear or humiliation. This campaign actively constructs that foundation out of safety, respect, and dignity. By preventing bullying and promoting kindness, we directly contribute to the resilience of young people, the confidence of families, and the health of our entire community network.
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Compassion: We lead with empathy, understanding the deep hurt caused by bullying and the complex reasons behind it.
Proactivity: We are not waiting to simply treat the consequences. We are taking action upstream to prevent harm before it occurs.
Inclusion: We champion spaces where every young person, regardless of background, identity, or ability, feels they belong and is free from targeting.
Collaboration: This campaign cannot succeed alone. It calls upon and connects schools, families, community partners, and youth themselves in a shared mission.
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Bullying is the ultimate disconnector. This campaign is a practical application of our belief that mental health thrives in relationships. Our activities are designed to weave stronger, more positive networks of support around every young person.
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A young person experiencing bullying can feel hopeless. A bystander can feel hopeless to stop it. This campaign is a tangible source of hope. It provides the tools, the language, and the shared community stance that says, "Change is possible, and we are building it together." We are not just addressing hurt; we are planting and nurturing the seeds of hope from which lifelong growth springs.
How we’re walking our talk…
Campaign Activities and Resources
This campaign brings our mission to life through targeted, evidence-informed activities:
"Be Kind" Activities: We’re activating our children, youth and employees with creative projects to create moments of positive self-connection for our children, youth and employees.
Educational Resources: We’re providing schools and families with the facts about bullying, its mental health impacts, and effective response strategies through blog posts, carousels, downloads, and expert resources.
Community "Upstander" Mobilization: We’re encouraging and equipping all community members—children, youth and adults—with the skills to safely interrupt bullying and support those targeted.
Internal Staff Activities: We’re fostering a culture of appreciation and kindness among our own staff, recognizing that a supported team is best equipped to support others.
Join Us
The "Be Kind. Help Hope Grow." campaign is an open invitation. It is a call to every caregiver, educator, community partner, and young person in Hamilton to join us in this critical work.
By choosing kindness, we are not ignoring the complexity of bullying; we are confronting it with the most powerful tool we have: our collective commitment to a community where every child and youth feels seen, heard, supported, and safe.
This is how we help hope grow.
This is how we build a mentally healthier Hamilton.