A local non-profit organization is calling for an urgent collaborative effort to address the root causes of bullying and violence in schools.

In a media release following the suicide of a St Stephen’s College student, The Silver Lining Foundation noted that bullying, fear and violence are stifling the dreams of young people.

It believes everyone has a role to play – students should report incidents of bullying to a trusted adult, parents should be the safest place for a child to turn to and teachers, while working with limitations, are not powerless in such situations.

The Foundation insists that bullying is not an inevitable part of growing up but is instead a crisis that must be addressed head on.