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Worried about bullying?
Bullying is any behaviour which makes someone feel hurt, intimidated, frightened, harmed or excluded. It usually happens time and time again.
Bullying can take different forms, such as:
- Non verbal: kicking, hitting, damaging or taking belongings
- Verbal: name calling, taunting
- Indirect: spreading rumours, excluding
- Cyber: sending nasty or threatening texts or emails or being nasty on the phone, through picture/video clips, internet chat rooms or websites
Bullying may be prejudice-driven, for example homophobic, racist, sexual, disablist or religious.
What can you do?
If you or one of your friends is being bullied there is something that you can do.
Here are our top tips:
- Talk to someone you trust like a close friend, parent, brother, sister or teacher. If you find this hard you can talk confidentially to a Personal Adviser or Youth Worker.
- Keep a log or diary of events. Write down or draw what happened and how it made you feel.
- Try to remain confident; make sure your body language is confident and stand tall. If the bullying is getting to you, try to remain calm and not let it show.
- Keep any nasty text or picture messages that you receive. Store them in a folder on your phone or computer.
- Bookmark or take screen shots of any websites that have hurtful or nasty postings about you.
- Try not to react or retaliate as this will only make the situation worse. Remember - make a note of what happened and talk to someone you trust!
I am too scared to go to school
No-one should make you feel scared to go into school, college or work. Try and remember that it is not your fault even if the bully tells you otherwise. Remember you have a right to stay safe and be happy. Speak to someone who will help you get support. Fighting back may only make the problems worse.
Help Lines
- Connexions Direct - 080 800 13 2 19, text 07766 4 13 2 1
- ChildLine - 0800 1111
- ACAS - 08457 474747 (For people who are being bullied at work)
Childline
Support to young people on any issues, including bullying. As well as the helpline you can email or chat to a ChildLine counsellor online or ‘Ask Sam’.
Think U Know
Information on mobiles, social networking, blogs and other technology. Find out what’s good, what’s not and what you can do about it. Advice on what to do if you feel you are being cyberbullied.
Need 2 Know – beat bullying
If you are being bullied, or feel you are bullying others, this site can help you to find out how to sort out the situation you are in and where to go for help.
Mencap
Mencap’s ‘Don’t stick it, stop it!’ campaign offers information and support against the bullying of young people with a learning disability.
Anti-bullying Alliance
Brings together over 60 organisationswho work to stop bullying and create safer environments in which children and young people can live, grow, play and learn.
Connexions Direct
Quick access to information and advice for young people on a wide range of topics through the website and Connexions Direct advisers.
Young Essex Assembly (YEA)
The voice of all young people in Essex, with a Beat Bullying sub-group who are passionate about making Essex a safer place with less bullying.
Your Comments
Posted - 01:16, 11 Dec 2008
Hello there, I’m sorry to hear that you have been suffering from bullying at school. Every situation is different but it’s important to remember that you are not alone. There’s a lot of different advice out there but the important thing to do first is to tell someone. Maybe a parent, a relative, a teacher, or if you’d prefer to talk to someone outside of school or home you can talk to a Connexions Personal Adviser in school or at a Connexions Centre. Sometimes it’s difficult to say the words out loud so some people have found it easier writing a note to a teacher or parent to tell them what’s been happening. Some people worry that telling someone will make things worse, but it’s really important that you tell someone you trust and feel comfortable with; so that they can offer you help and support. It’s also helpful to talk to people who have also been bullied, as it can help to make you feel less alone. A great way to do this is to visit some anti-bullying websites. I’d recommend www.bullying.co.uk as it has a section from other young people who share their experiences and offer suggestions to help you. There are more useful websites under Mouse’s recommendations. Don’t forget if you want to talk confidentially to a Connexions Personal Adviser you can find details of your nearest centre from the left hand navigation, under Connexions Centres. I hope this helps Connexions PA.
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Posted - 06:11, 10 Dec 2008
a girl in my class has been bullying me by my weackness and she can be embassing and im a sensitive person she calls me names and my 2 boys cant really help cause they cant hurt girls.