Senior Reporter
jesse.ramdeo@guardian.co.tt
Clinical psychologist and University of the West Indies lecturer in psychology Dr Katija Khan is among a group of people advocating for school bullying to be tackled urgently.
Dr Khan’s comment during an interview with Guardian Media yesterday followed the recent death of 15-year-old Jayden Lalchan, a school student who had reportedly been bullied for several years before he ended his life.
Dr Khan maintained that stronger policies and more resources are needed in the face of ongoing harassment in and out of classrooms.
“Unfortunately, bullying is much more common than we want it to be. I think for children and teenagers there is a certain amount of banter that is expected, but what we need to consider is the intent; what is the impact, and if the intent is to cause harm, be unkind and cruel, and if this is occurring over a period of time and affecting the victim negatively, then that is bullying.”
Dr Khan stressed that turning a blind eye to the life-threatening mental health epidemic only added to the victim’s burden.
“To have such a negative experience at this developmental stage can make children very vulnerable, putting them at increased risk for mental health disorders and mental health problems such as depression, anxiety, insecurity and hypervigilance.
“These can also lead to poor physical outcomes, causing sleep problems, headaches, and complaints of stomach problems and pain.”
The psychologist stated that there must be a re-commitment to creating safe environments for children, starting from within the walls of the home to the corridors of the classroom.
“We need to attack this at all levels, a whole-school policy that involves teachers, parents, students and communities. Every single school across the country needs to undertake some sort of reflective process of their bullying prevention policies with an understanding that these do not exist on their own; they have to exist in an environment and a culture that is not indifferent and allows for early identification, appropriate discipline and behaviour management, and the building of proper socio-emotional skills in students.”
Dr Khan also urged caution against those taking to social media to attack Lalchan’s alleged perpetrator.
“There is going to be a lot of finger-pointing, but we have to be cautious that in this approach and attempt to get redress and justice, we don’t create another problem.”
Clinical traumatologist Hanif Benjamin, speaking on CNC3’s The Morning Brew, further called for a national anti-bullying policy for schools.
“A full policy in our school system, and again, someone may write a nice policy and put it on a shelf, but we need to operationalise this policy.”
Benjamin noted that inaction by those in authority is just as bad as bullying. Meanwhile, political leader of the Patriotic Front, Mickela Panday, said those responsible for bullying must be held accountable.
In a statement, Panday called on Education Minister Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly to provide educators with the training and resources to stop bullying before it escalates.
“The Government must act now to introduce enforceable policies that not only punish offenders but also foster a culture of respect, empathy, and accountability. We must prioritise prevention over reaction, saving lives before more young people feel that they have no way out.”
The Silver Lining Foundation also called for more collaboration among stakeholders to address its root causes. The non-profit organisation, which has conducted two national surveys to assess the extent of school bullying and violence, emphasised the need for safer learning environments.
According to the NGO’s executive director Jeremy Edwards, the crisis must be tackled head-on. “We must lead by example, creating spaces where children, parents, and educators can openly discuss these issues and take meaningful action. Jayden’s life was taken far too soon.
“Today, we mourn this grievous loss, but tomorrow, we must honour his memory by committing ourselves to the hard work of change.”
Pride TT, in a statement, instructed the Education Ministry to address homophobic bullying in schools.
“The Ministry of Education’s initial silence in response to this tragedy is further exacerbated by the minister’s admission that the Ministry did not have any prior knowledge of these reported incidents. This demonstrates a troubling lack of remorse, compassion, and concern for Jayden and his grieving family and friends from the same institutions that are supposed to protect him.”
