What can we do about bullying?

Bullying can have an impact on school work, relationships, selfesteem, mental health and ultimately young people’s futures.

What can we do about bullying?

• Most importantly remind your young person that experiencing bullying is absolutely not their fault and should not be happening to them. Remind them that you are there to support them and help to keep them safe
• If your young person discloses that they have been or are currently being bullied, with their involvement it is important that you speak to school. By law all schools must have policies and measures in place to prevent bullying. Schools therefore ultimately have the responsibility to safeguard their young people from bullying and have a responsibility to act on it
• If your young person discloses that they are being bullied try and find out who by and what the bullying feels like. This is important as bullying can be anything from name calling, physical attacks, to stalking and harassment to death threats, for example. Determining what is going on for them determines how you can respond and try and make things better
• If your young person is being cyber-bullied (bullied via social media/texts/calls) have a discussion with them about blocking the individuals involved if this would be safe to do so
• Talk to your young person about how to manage bullying such as telling teaching staff at School and other ways to keep themselves safe. This can include making sure that they have their phone on them should they need to call for help.