Bullying

Bullying is when someone does something deliberately to hurt, upset or threaten you.

Bullying can be really difficult to deal with and make you feel very upset or low in confidence.

Bullying can happen face-to-face, one-to-one or in groups. It is an imbalance of power, which can make it difficult for those being bullied to defend themselves. Bullying can take lots of different forms, but includes name calling, being physically violent, spreading rumours or even deliberately leaving people out. It can also happen through social media: texting and cyberbullying are becoming more common. It is important that bullying is taken seriously

Types of bullying

There are various different types of bullying:

• homophobic bullying based on your sexual orientation
• racist bullying because of your skin colour or ethnicity
• religious bullying because of your beliefs or faith.
• sizeist bullying referring to your body size
• sexist bullying focusing on you being of the opposite sex
• cyberbullying targeting you online, often anonymously
• bullying because you are different

Bullying can be a one-off or it can go on for a long time. And bullying can happen to anyone.

Young people who are bullied are more likely to experience: depression, anxiety, increased feelings of sadness and loneliness, changes in sleep and eating patterns, and loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy.

What to do if I’m being bullied

Nobody has the right to make you feel bad about yourself – and they can be stopped. The first thing to do is to talk to someone you trust, like a friend, parent, teacher or social worker. Telling someone you trust is the first step.

How to help someone being bullied:

• If you are at school, let a teacher know what you suspect
• If you are in a workplace, maybe let your colleague know that you are there for them
• Go with the person being bullied and back up what they say to the teacher
• Tell the person being bullied that you’ll can help them to tell their parents
• Tell your parents or an adult you trust
• Keep a diary of what you see going on so that you can give a reliable account of what has been happening
• Encourage young people to practice ‘safe social media use’- block, unfriend, mute and delete anyone or any group that is unhelpful. If social media is a problem; delete the apps on their account. Encourage the young person to turn their phone off at night.
• Find hobbies and activities that will boost their self-esteem and confidence. Joining new groups or clubs will give them the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends

Share concerns with your child’s school/college and identify whether additional pastoral support is available.

Help and support may be available from your child’s school nursing team.

Resources

Childline
Help With Bullying (kidscape.org.uk) offers support and information for young people experiencing bullying
Bullying | How To Deal With Bullying and Getting Help | YoungMinds
National Bullying Helpline contact information