Advice & Help Lines
What is bullying?
Bullying includes teasing and name-calling, spreading nasty
rumours, abusive or threatening texts or emails, intimidation and
violence.
There's often a fine line between some of this behaviour - what's
considered gentle teasing by one child might appear as intimidation
to another.
The effects of bullying
There's no doubt that for some children and young people,
bullying - however defined - is the most stressful experience of
their lives. Some fear it so much they refuse to go to school or
find excuses to avoid situations where bullying can occur. This is
why it must always be taken seriously.
The victim
Some children and young people are more likely to be the victims
of bullying than others. Those with an obvious physical
characteristic, such as being overweight, can become targets.
Victims of bullying often feel ashamed of what's happening and
blame themselves. It's here that friends and important adults have
a key role to play - bullying victims need support to see that it's
not their fault and that something can be done to help them.
Not all bullying happens at school
Most
people assume that bullying happens exclusively at school, but it
can happen elsewhere, such as online and sometimes at home,
possibly by an older sibling.
For advice and help on how to stop bullying, please see the
links below:
