Pink Shirt Day should not just challenge bullying but also promote inclusion, psychologist says

People across the province are wearing brightly coloured tops Wednesday to mark the 14th annual Pink Shirt Day, also known as Anti-Bullying Day but oneB.C. psychologist is asking that British Columbiansconsider taking their actionsone step further than just sporting a showy shirt.

UBCpsycholody professorAmori Mikamisaid the occasionis "the perfect day" for people to not only beanti-bullyingbut also pro-inclusion, by reaching out to those at risk of beingostracized and letting those individuals know they are welcome and belong.

"We can all think to ourselves today and in the future, you know, what's one thing we can do to reach out to somebody else who might not be feeling included and try to take steps to include them," Mikami said Wednesday on CBC's The Early Edition.

"Instead of stopping bullying, we should be thinking about moving toward inclusion."

'Lift each other up'

Mikami'spoint echoes the province's chosen theme for this year's Pink Shirt Day, "lift each other up," which was explained in a joint statementby Premier John Horgan, Education Minister Jennifer Whiteside andCarol Todd, founder of the Amanda Todd Legacy Society.

"Lifting each other up means accepting and respecting each other, regardless of race, culture, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity. It means seeing others for their strengths, abilities and things we have in common. It means taking the time to understand different points of view and share experiences," the statement said.

Todd's 15-year-daughter Amanda killed herself in 2012after posting a YouTube video saying she had been blackmailed by an online bully.

Mikamisaid online bullying, while it has some similarities to in-person bullying, can be more relentless and invasive simply because you cannot escape it as long as you have an internet connection.

"If it's on your phone and your phone is with you all the time, you are always getting notifications," said Mikami, adding onlinetorment can also be on display for a wide number of people quickly and a record of it can live permanently in cyberspace.

One way to combat the prevalence of online bullying, she said, is not only for people to practise inclusion, but also to simply think before they speak or type.

"All of us have a tendency to assume that everybody else understands things like us, and that's where that's really not true," she said. "[If]you're not totally sure how they're going to take something, think and be kind, or ask."

Pink Shirt Day began in Nova Scotiain 2007 when Grade 12 students David Shepherd, Travis Price and a few friendssaw that a Grade 9 student was being bullied for wearing a pink shirt on the first day of school.

Shepherd, Price and pals thenwent out to buy pink shirts and handed them out as a sign of solidarity.

LISTEN | Amori Mikami talks with CBC host Stephen Quinn on The Early Edition about Pink Shirt Day: