Anti-bullying week is organised by the Anti-bullying Alliance (ABA), a coalition of organisations and individuals that work together to tackle bullying. It takes place every year in the UK in the third week of November, with the aim of raising awareness about bullying among children and young people.
Health and Wellbeing
Bullying affects millions of lives and can leave us feeling hopeless. 1 in every 4 young people in the UK have been victims of bullying in the past 12 months. 77% of those being bullied explained that it negatively impacted their mental health. Moreover, a third of those who were bullied reported that they had suicidal thoughts following the victimisation.
Needless to say, a strong link exists between mental health and bullying. Young people who have experienced bullying are more likely to experience mental health issues and those who have mental health issues are more likely to be bullied.
- 30% of victims of bullying explain that they are bullied at least once per week
- 47% of bullying victims believe that they were bullied due to their physical appearance
- 72% of those who reported getting bullied experienced a moderate to extreme negative impact on their confidence.
Signs and Indicators of Bullying Include:
- Reluctant to go to school
- Being distressed or anxious
- Losing confidence and becoming withdrawn
- Having problems eating and or sleeping
- Having unexplained injuries
- Changes in appearance
- Changes in performance and/or behaviour at school
How to Report Bullying?
If you have any concerns about bullying you can contact:
- NSPCC Helpline on 08088005000 or you can email help@nspcc.org.uk
- Your local child protection services. Their contact details can be found on the website of the local authority the child lives in.
If you think the learner is in immediate danger you should contact the police on 999.
Please share your concerns with the safeguarding team If you’re worried they are at risk of serious harm but they are not in immediate danger.
Bullying in The Digital Age
An increasing number of the population, especially children, have access to social media and online gaming.
How to report bullying on social media, etc.:
- Thinkuknow – a platform that helps to protect children and young people from the threat of online child sexual abuse and exploitation.
- Block’em – blocks unwanted calls and texts from specific numbers (for android users)
- Childline and the Internet Watch Foundation’s discreet Report Remove tool – can be contacted to take down sexual images and videos of individuals under 18 that were shared online.
How to report bullying videos shared online:
- Contact the site that the video was shared on as soon as possible – depending on their terms and conditions they may be able to remove it from their site
How to report hate crimes:
- It is against the law to bully someone because of their sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, religious belief, race, skin colour or disability is a hate crime and against the law.
- Contact the police if this is happening to your child or a child you know. Call 999 for emergency or 101 at other times.
Check the Following Video to Learn About the Seven Psychological Effects of Bullying:
Please talk to any member of the Safeguarding Team if you have any questions or concerns relating to any of the information above.
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