NPSC Urges Parents to Take a Stand Against Bullying

Parents and guardians are being urged to take a firm stance against bullying and become active protectors of their children.

Acting Chief Executive Officer, National Parenting Support Commission (NPSC), Anna-Kay Magnus Watson, made the call at the National Parent Month 2026 launch on Thursday (November 5) at Holy Trinity High School in Kingston.

The theme for the month is ‘Parents Tek a Stand; Raise Kindness, Stop Bullying’.

“Today, I’m asking every parent and caregiver to make three commitments. First, know your child; know their friends, their struggles, their online world and what they’re not saying. Second, be accountable. Do not excuse cruelty, humiliation or bullying because the child responsible is your own. Third, take action. Do not be a bystander. Speak with the school. Speak with other parents, seek support. Come to us at NPSC. Follow through. Do not wait until your child reaches a breaking point,” she said.

Drawing from personal experience, she said she took a stand when one of her two daughters was being bullied in prep school.

“Thankfully, in my home, we have good communication, and one thing my children know is how much I love them. So, we were able to have that conversation but I watched as my daughter’s self-esteem plummeted. I watched how difficult it was for her to make friends as she transitioned to high school. I watched as she became a bit depressed and struggled. It felt very helpless as a parent but I knew I had to be there for my daughter,” Mrs. Magnus Watson said, noting she took her child to counselling.

“I did everything that I could to move her beyond this particular issue, and now my daughter is in college flourishing, but that’s what we have to do as parents. When we bring a child into this world, we make a decision to make Jamaica a better place and to give that child more than we had as children growing up,” she said.

She argued that it is the duty of parents to make the necessary sacrifices for their children to feel loved and safe, and that is a responsibility she takes personally.

“Every parent listening, your involvement cannot begin only when there is a crisis. Your child needs you present long before that moment arrives,” she pointed out.

Studies done by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the Child Protection and Family Services Agency (CPFSA), indicate that 60 per cent to 65 per cent of Jamaican students experience bullying at some point in their lives.

Mr. Magnus Watson called on parents, stakeholders and other partners to carry the anti-bullying message beyond Parent Month.