Address bullying after the Tumbler Ridge shooting

An author with personal experience of being bullied says the Tumbler Ridge shooting has focused attention on gaps in support for bullied people and reports the person identified in news accounts had prior RCMP mental‑health checks.

The writer reflects on the Tumbler Ridge shooting and on how bullying and lack of support can affect people over time. They note that the community discussion has focused on the victims and also on the person identified as the alleged shooter. The author describes their own childhood experience of repeated bullying and links those experiences to broader concerns about mental health and school safety. The piece reports that news accounts say the person identified began transitioning six years ago, left school four years ago, and had been the subject of multiple RCMP mental‑health check calls. Key points: - The author describes long-term personal experience of bullying and its effects on self-confidence and mental health. - The article reports that the person identified in news accounts had begun transitioning six years ago, dropped out of school four years ago, and was the subject of multiple RCMP mental‑health check calls. - The writer raises concerns that schools and communities may not provide enough support for bullied students and notes bullying can be online, verbal, or physical. Summary: The piece connects personal experience of bullying to worries about gaps in support systems in schools and communities following the Tumbler Ridge shooting. It reports prior RCMP mental‑health checks involving the person identified in news accounts. Undetermined at this time.