Beautiful Virgin Islands

Saturday, Jul 26, 2025

Cyberbullying increasing since Covid- School Counsellor

Cyberbullying increasing since Covid- School Counsellor

As the Virgin Islands observe Anti-Bullying Week from Sunday, October 17 to Saturday, October 23, 2021, it has been disclosed that cyberbullying is on the increase in the territory.

Organiser and School Counsellor, Mrs Sharon Leonard said that since the inception of the annual week there has been a decrease in violent acts reported.

“Awareness is helping and we have seen a decrease not only in the schools but in our community. However, there are certain types of bullying that are increasing like cyberbullying especially since Covid,” Mrs Leonard said in a Government Information press release today, October 19, 2021.

Organiser and School Counsellor, Ms Bisa Smith added that the reasoning for the increase in cyberbullying is due to the anonymous nature of the Internet.

“It’s more difficult to get that person to suffer the consequences for their actions because it’s hard to track” she explained.

According to studies, the effect of cyberbullying can be most detrimental to the victim, as they may experience a number of emotional issues that affect their social and academic performance as well as their overall mental health.

Organiser and School Counsellor, Mrs Sharon Leonard said that since the inception of the annual Anti-Bullying Week there has been a decrease in violent acts reported.


‘We must not give up’ fight against bullying- Dr the Hon Wheatley


Anti Bullying Week is being observed under the theme ‘One Kind Word’.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), said, “Unfortunately, in the Virgin Islands we too have had incidents of bullying which have resulted in significant harm to children. Bullying can have a terrible effect on children and their families, and we must not give up in our attempts to combat it, especially now, when children are going through a very tough period in their life.”

He added, “The use of kind words is something that as a community we can all practice. As a response strategy to bullying, it is brilliant. It allows all to engage in a practice that reduces the bullying of children and young people.”

Minister for Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr the Honourable Natalio D. Wheatley (R7), said the Virgin Islands must not give up in attempts to combat bullying, especially now, when children are going through a very tough period in their lives.


Be kind


This week, counsellors across the Territory will be spreading the message of being kind and others are encouraged to do kind acts.

“We want persons ….to be intentional about being kind. A kind gesture, a kind word, a compliment, hold the door for someone so that it doesn’t close on the next person once you walk through. All of those things are examples of how to be a better person. And that is the most important thing any adult can do for a child, to mirror/model the behaviour we want them to exhibit,” Ms Smith said.

Activities for week


The week will be filled with examples of how to be kind as well as different messages that will be shared in the community. The remaining events are as follows:

Tuesday, October 19 – Wear Odd Socks Day & School presentations

Wednesday, October 20 – Words of Kindness Day, Students are encouraged to share kind words to their fellow students.

Thursday, October 21 – Professional Development Day

Friday, October 22 – Mid-Term Break Forum

Saturday, October 23 – Social media video clips

Anti-Bullying Week is being hosted by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth Affairs, Fisheries and Agriculture in collaboration with the New Horizon Guidance and Counselling Unit and is dedicated to assisting schools in preventing and combating bullying in all forms.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Deputy attorney general's second day of meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell has concluded
Controversial March in Switzerland Features Men Dressed in Nazi Uniforms
Politics is a good business: Barack Obama’s Reported Net Worth Growth, 1990–2025
Thai Civilian Death Toll Rises to 12 in Cambodian Cross-Border Attacks
TSUNAMI: Trump Just Crossed the Rubicon—And There’s No Turning Back
Over 120 Criminal Cases Dismissed in Boston Amid Public Defender Shortage
UN's Top Court Declares Environmental Protection a Legal Obligation Under International Law
"Crazy Thing": OpenAI's Sam Altman Warns Of AI Voice Fraud Crisis In Banking
The Podcaster Who Accidentally Revealed He Earns Over $10 Million a Year
Trump Announces $550 Billion Japanese Investment and New Trade Agreements with Indonesia and the Philippines
US Treasury Secretary Calls for Institutional Review of Federal Reserve Amid AI‑Driven Growth Expectations
UK Government Considers Dropping Demand for Apple Encryption Backdoor
Severe Flooding in South Korea Claims Lives Amid Ongoing Rescue Operations
Japanese Man Discovers Family Connection Through DNA Testing After Decades of Separation
Russia Signals Openness to Ukraine Peace Talks Amid Escalating Drone Warfare
Switzerland Implements Ban on Mammography Screening
Japanese Prime Minister Vows to Stay After Coalition Loses Upper House Majority
Pogacar Extends Dominance with Stage Fifteen Triumph at Tour de France
CEO Resigns Amid Controversy Over Relationship with HR Executive
Man Dies After Being Pulled Into MRI Machine Due to Metal Chain in New York Clinic
NVIDIA Achieves $4 Trillion Valuation Amid AI Demand
US Revokes Visas of Brazilian Corrupted Judges Amid Fake Bolsonaro Investigation
U.S. Congress Approves Rescissions Act Cutting Federal Funding for NPR and PBS
North Korea Restricts Foreign Tourist Access to New Seaside Resort
Brazil's Supreme Court Imposes Radical Restrictions on Former President Bolsonaro
Centrist Criticism of von der Leyen Resurfaces as she Survives EU Confidence Vote
Judge Criticizes DOJ Over Secrecy in Dropping Charges Against Gang Leader
Apple Closes $16.5 Billion Tax Dispute With Ireland
Von der Leyen Faces Setback Over €2 Trillion EU Budget Proposal
UK and Germany Collaborate on Global Military Equipment Sales
Trump Plans Over 10% Tariffs on African and Caribbean Nations
Flying Taxi CEO Reclaims Billionaire Status After Stock Surge
Epstein Files Deepen Republican Party Divide
Zuckerberg Faces $8 Billion Privacy Lawsuit From Meta Shareholders
FIFA Pressured to Rethink World Cup Calendar Due to Climate Change
SpaceX Nears $400 Billion Valuation With New Share Sale
Microsoft, US Lab to Use AI for Faster Nuclear Plant Licensing
Trump Walks Back Talk of Firing Fed Chair Jerome Powell
Zelensky Reshuffles Cabinet to Win Support at Home and in Washington
"Can You Hit Moscow?" Trump Asked Zelensky To Make Putin "Feel The Pain"
Irish Tech Worker Detained 100 days by US Authorities for Overstaying Visa
Dimon Warns on Fed Independence as Trump Administration Eyes Powell’s Succession
Church of England Removes 1991 Sexuality Guidelines from Clergy Selection
Superman Franchise Achieves Success with Latest Release
Hungary's Viktor Orban Rejects Agreements on Illegal Migration
Jeff Bezos Considers Purchasing Condé Nast as a Wedding Gift
Ghislaine Maxwell Says She’s Ready to Testify Before Congress on Epstein’s Criminal Empire
Bal des Pompiers: A Celebration of Community and Firefighter Culture in France
FBI Chief Kash Patel Denies Resignation Speculations Amid Epstein List Controversy
Air India Pilot’s Mental Health Records Under Scrutiny
×