Chatham-Kent police officers are standing up to bullies this week by wearing pink shirts.
Youth Officer Constable Derek Shaw says it's part of a larger movement during Bullying Awareness Week that includes local schools and law enforcement agencies across the province.
"The whole idea behind the pink shirts is the need to stand up to bullying -- everyone is different," says Shaw.
The shirts are also symbolic of the fact that bullying isn't just something that happens in school -- it's also an issue in the community at large.
Shaw says it's important for everyone to stand up to bullies -- especially with the rise of bullying on social media.
"Now our youth -- and even some of our adults -- go home and it doesn't stop," says Shaw. "It's on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, all these other social media websites -- sometimes it's even anonymous, which makes it that much worse."
Shaw says being a victim of bullying can also have a big impact on someone's life.
"It causes anxiety and stress for people on a daily basis," says Shaw. "I see it a lot with the youth -- they get upset and have problems in school as a result."
Shaw adds that it's important for victims to stand up and speak to someone who can help them if they are being bullied.
He says there are a lot of supports available including the Kids Help Phone and ACCESS Open Minds in Chatham-Kent.
