12:37 12 March 2010

Bullying

Bullying is more common than you might think. It can be physical threats and assaults, verbal abuse, teasing, spreading rumours and being left out.

A bully might not always realise how much they're hurting people and may do this because they have their own problems.

Bullying can be done by one person or a group. It can go on for a long time if you don't do anything about it. It can seem difficult to do something: worrying that the bullying will get even worse or that you won't be taken seriously or it's your own fault.

Tell someone

It's really important if someone is bullying you or you know someone who is being bullied that you tell someone you can trust. This could be someone in your family, a teacher, the school nurse, Connexions Personal Adviser or youth worker.

If you prefer, you can call a telephone helpline. Your school may have set up an anti-bullying peer support group, so you could go along to that.

Remember, if nobody knows, no-one can help.

Useful contacts

Kidscape

Childline 0800 1111

Report bullying

Saneline (emotional support helpline) 0845 767 8000

 

Sept 2009

Posted on 02 October 2009

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