February 26 marks Pink Shirt Day, also known as antibullying day. Pink Shirt Day advocates kindness and inclusivity and raises awareness of bullying in schools, workplaces and homes. Across Canada, thousands of kids, families and colleagues show their support by wearing pink shirts — some from their closets and others purchased from official distributors like CKNW Kids’ Fund. Each year, proceeds from pink shirt sales go to organizations that support kids’ healthy self-esteem and teach empathy, compassion and kindness.

Pink Shirt Day was founded in 2007, when two Grade 12 students in a Nova Scotia high school took a stand against bullying in support of a younger classmate. The younger boy had been bullied for wearing a pink shirt on the first day of school. The Grade 12 students purchased and distributed pink shirts to their classmates, breaking the cycle of bullying.

Schools are excellent venues for reaching large numbers of children with antibullying programs. Programs can start early and can be offered across a range of ages, which means they reach more children to prevent the harms that come with bullying. To learn more about effective antibullying interventions, see Vol. 15, No. 4 of the Children’s Mental Health Research Quarterly.