91��ɫ expert available to explain how LGBTQ youth can thrive in self-isolation

TORONTO, May 28, 2020 – June’s Pride Month will look much different this year with no joyous in-person events celebrating the triumphs and recognizing the struggles of the LGBTQ community.

That is a huge loss for some young people who are grappling with their identities and lacking access to much-needed support systems while stuck at home in quarantine due to the COVID-19 pandemic, says , an associate professor in 91��ɫ’s Faculty of Education who teaches sexuality and education.

“While organizations are working to create virtual celebrations, these cannot replace the feeling of being part of a crowd of LGBTQ people marching down the street,” says Gilbert. “LGBTQ youth may be at home, socially distancing, with families who may or may not be supportive of their sexual or gender identities. Schools, and the friends found there, are often a crucial space of support for LGBTQ youth.”

With Ontario schools closed since the March Break, other young people are happy for the lockdown.

“Some LGBTQ youth face harassment at school and the break may be a welcome respite from the stress of going to school,” says Gilbert, an expert on bullying in schools related to LGBTQ issues who served as the only Canadian investigator in the .

Teachers often do their sex education lessons in the spring so for many students it is being delivered online, if taught at all, which brings both challenges and opportunities.

“Students can access the information shared by their teacher at home, outside the sometimes uncomfortable atmosphere of the classroom,” explains Gilbert. “But they aren’t learning with each other and hearing other people’s questions get answered.”

Gilbert has conducted extensive research on LGBTQ issues in education, youth understanding of sexuality and gender, and sexual health education. Currently, Gilbert is the lead investigator of an international collaborative research project, Affective Beginnings: LGBT Issues in Teacher Education.

She can share tips for LGBTQ youths to survive in self-isolation, including:

• Reach out to teachers, mentors and caring adults to ask for support
• Stay connected with friends online and enjoy socially-distant time together
• Read LGBTQ books, catch up on classic LGBTQ movies and TV shows
• Learn about the history of the LGBTQ community through online resources

91��ɫ champions new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-disciplinary programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. 91��ɫ students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world’s most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. 91��ɫ U is an internationally recognized research university – our 11 faculties and 25 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, 91��ɫ is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 300,000 alumni.

91��ɫ U's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

Media Contact: Vanessa Thompson, 91��ɫ Media Relations, 647-654-9452,��vthomps@yorku.ca

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TORONTO, November 20, 2018��–����is a time to help promote safe school and positive learning environments. This year’s theme is .

During Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week – November 18-24, 2018 – students, school staff and parents are encouraged to learn more about the long-term impact of bullying both on and off the playground and in and outside of the classroom. Bullying can occur in various forms including physical, verbal, social and online via social media.����School-aged children and parents continue to be faced with finding ways to combat and educate others on the impact of bullying both on and offline.

The following 91��ɫ experts are available for interviews on the mental, emotional and physical trauma of bullying, trends, as well as prevention strategies.

��professor��in the Faculty of Education, was the only Canadian investigator in the��, which examined and expanded the terms of cultural recognition and social belonging surrounding LGBTQ sexuality and youth in U.S. schools. In collaboration with education, research and strategic communications partners, the project conducted ethnographic research to uncover the ordinary ways LGBTQ conversations circulate inside schools.

She can comment on:

• Bullying in schools related to LGBTQ issues
• The role of education in preventing sexual assault
• Issues of consent
• Links between ‘hazing’ and homophobia in schools.

Ami Rokach,��professor in the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health, and a clinical psychologist, has been researching and teaching about loneliness for the past 35 years. His research includes work on loneliness, anxiety and phobias, traumatic experiences and personal growth and stress management. (Available by phone, Skype and email only)

He can comment on:

• Workplace bullying
• Loneliness of the bully and the bullied
• Effects of cyberbullying
• How bystanders experience bullying and behave

��91��ɫ��champions new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Through cross-disciplinary programming, innovative course design, diverse experiential learning and a supportive community environment, our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Located in Toronto, 91��ɫ is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 300,000 alumni. 91��ɫ U's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

Media Contact:

Anjum Nayyar, 91��ɫ Media Relations, 416-736-2100 ext. 44543,��anayyar@yorku.ca

The post Bullying awareness key to safe schools: 91��ɫ U experts available appeared first on News@91��ɫ.

TORONTO, February 26, 2018 – The theme for this year’s , being marked on Wednesday, is encouraging others to combat cyberbullying by thinking twice before posting something negative, and instead using the Internet to spread kindness.

At a time when organizations in all sectors have called on harassment and bullying, and are looking for ways to help educate and better manage these issues, conversations have turned to helping those affected find their voices to make a change.���� School-aged children and parents continue to be faced with finding ways to combat and educate others on the impact of bullying both on and offline.

The following 91��ɫ experts are available for interviews on the mental, emotional and physical trauma of bullying:

, professor of clinical psychology at 91��ɫ’s Faculty of Health, was recently honoured as a Fellow of the International Society for the Study of Trauma & Dissociation (ISSTD) for his work on trauma treatment. He is the author of .

He can speak to the following:

• Impact of a traumatic incident
• Surviving a bullying episode as a child

Ami Rokach, professor in the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health, and a clinical psychologist, has been researching and teaching about loneliness for the past 35 years. His research includes work on loneliness, anxiety and phobias, traumatic experiences and personal growth and stress management. (Available by phone and skype)

He can comment on:

• Workplace bullying
• Loneliness of the bully and the bullied
• Effects of cyber bullying
• How bystanders experience bullying and behave

, professor in the Department of Psychology in the Faculty of Health, is a research author of

She can speak to the following:

• Bullying and dating violence
• Bullying and sexual harassment
• Classroom management to address bullying��– moving beyond controlling negative behaviour to a more holistic perspective, including examining a student’s relationships and opportunities for positive interactions with teachers, peers, family and the community
• Bullying among parents; how that can impact a child, mentally and emotionally

, associate professor in the Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health and is CIHR Chair in Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Treatment and Care Research.

He can comment on:

• Bullying and victimization in youth with autism
• Impacts on mental and emotional health for those with autism
• How to reduce the risk of bullying in youth with autism
• How bullying can impact youth with autism
• How we can make kids with autism resilient when faced with bullying

NOTE: 91��ɫ’s����is available for double-ended broadcast interviews.

91��ɫ champions new ways of thinking that drive teaching and research excellence. Our students receive the education they need to create big ideas that make an impact on the world. Meaningful and sometimes unexpected careers result from cross-disciplinary programming, innovative course design and diverse experiential learning opportunities. 91��ɫ students and graduates push limits, achieve goals and find solutions to the world’s most pressing social challenges, empowered by a strong community that opens minds. 91��ɫ U is an internationally recognized research university – our 11 faculties and 25 research centres have partnerships with 200+ leading universities worldwide. Located in Toronto, 91��ɫ is the third largest university in Canada, with a strong community of 53,000 students, 7,000 faculty and administrative staff, and more than 300,000 alumni.

91��ɫ U's fully bilingual Glendon Campus is home to Southern Ontario's Centre of Excellence for French Language and Bilingual Postsecondary Education.

Media contact:��Anjum Nayyar, 91��ɫ Media Relations, 416 736 2100 ext. 44543��anayyar@yorku.ca

The post Behind the bullying: experts available on trauma and long-term consequences appeared first on News@91��ɫ.