Bullying
Bullying can happen to anyone, anywhere and at any age, it can happen at school, at home or online. If it's online it's called cyberbullying. Bullying is when something is repeated over time:
Several
Times
On
Purpose and it needs to STOP
What is bullying?
It can be a frightening experience and make you feel miserable and lonely. It can happen in many ways such as:
- Name calling teasing and insulting
- Taking or hiding your belongings or money
- Making things up that can get you in to trouble
- Physically hurting you- hitting, punching, kicking, shoving,
- Spreading rumours about you in chats and online
- Ignoring you and leaving you out on purpose
- Threatening and tormenting you
- Posting and commenting on nasty photos, posts or videos about you online
Don’t ignore bullying
It won’t go away. If you are being bullied, it can make you miserable and you need to talk to someone about what is happening. If you or a friend are being bullied it is important to do something to stop it.
See more information about online safety on the Keeping Safe Online page on this website.
Bullying can also be part of other forms of abuse, including neglect, emotional, physical and sexual abuse.
Different types of bullying
- Homophobic - Bullying someone because they are a different sexual orientation from you. Saying that someone is 'gay' or using words like 'gay' as an insult
- Racist - Treating people differently because of their race, the colour of their skin, where they are from or what they believe in and using offensive words that describe race to bully people.
- Sexist - Treating people differently based on whether they are female or male. For example, thinking that boys are better than girls.
- Disabilist - Treating someone differently if they are disabled or using offensive language to describe people who are disabled and using this to bully people.
- Lookist - Bullying someone because they look different such as if they have ginger hair or wear glasses.
- Classist - Deciding that someone is from a particular social class - usually if they are seen as being rich or poor - and bullying them because of this. For example, calling somebody a 'chav' or, 'snob'.
If you are being bullied
- It is important to tell someone. You can talk to your parents/carer, teacher, friend or anyone who you trust.
- It might help to write down what they have done and said to you and include how that made you feel. When you have found someone, you can trust and who is helpful, share what you have written with them. Remember to be very careful and only write things that have happened.
- Always tell the truth about what has happened. If a small part of what you are saying is shown to be untrue then it throws everything else into doubt.
Sometimes bullying stops quickly, but doing nothing means it may continue until someone is seriously upset or hurt. If their behaviour is not challenged, they are unlikely to stop. It could be you, or the bullies may find someone else to bully.
What not to do
- Don't try to deal with the problem by yourself- there is nothing wrong in asking for help.
- Don't hit the bullies - you might end up being accused of bullying yourself.
- Don't believe the lies that the bullies spread about you.
- Don't hide what is happening from the adults you trust. Keeping what is happening a secret gives the bullies power over you.
Remember - Don't suffer in silence, no one will mind you asking for help.
You can get advice on bullying without having to give your name by ringing Childline free on 0800 1111. The call won't even show up on your phone bill.
If you're 18 or over call the NSPCC helpline on 0808 800 5000.