Bullying

What is bullying?

Bullying is a repeated aggressive behaviour, intended to harm another person or group of people. It is common in schools but can be a problem at work in adult life too. Formsof bullying include:

• Physical assault.

• Teasing.

• Making threats.

• Name-calling.

• Excluding a person from a group; for example, not inviting them to parties.

• Spreading untrue rumours about a person.

• Damage to property or schoolwork.

• Hate crime. This is a criminal offence that is motivated by prejudice against a person's race, religion, sexual orientation, disability or transgender identity.

• Cyberbullying. This is bullying which takes place through mobile phones or online. Bullying occurs through text messages, social network sites, instant messenger apps, gaming sites or email. For example:

  • Sending or posting offensive or insulting messages.

  • Posting false information about a person.

  • Posting pictures to embarrass, humiliate or ridicule a person.

  • Distributing pictures or videos of someone being attacked or humiliated.

  • Excluding a person from a group.

  • Cyberstalking - using the internet to stalk or harass an individual.

  • Trolling. This is posting offensive or stirring messages to provoke people or cause disruption. Trolling is not always bullying but may be in some instances.

• Bullying at work - for example:

  • Aggression - face to face, or electronically.

  • Persistent humiliation, ridicule or criticism in front of others.

  • Picking on one person.

  • Spreading malicious rumours.

  • Changing areas of responsibility for no justifiable reason and giving people demeaning or inappropriate tasks.

  • Undermining a person - belittling them or putting them down.

  • Deliberately leaving a person out of discussions or decisions.

  • Refusing training or promotion opportunities without justification.

• Bullying in the home, including domestic violence.

Why do people bully?

There is no single reason which explains why bullying happens. Children and adults can be bullies for a number of reasons. Many have been bullied themselves. Sometimes it can be an expression of anger or frustration due to problems they have, such as problems at home or struggling at school or work. It can be the result of poor upbringing - some people have not been taught to be sensitive to or care about other people's feelings.

Violent games or movies may influence some people's behaviour and make them more likely to be bullies. For some it may be an attention-seeking behaviour, if they are not getting enough care and attention at home or elsewhere. Others find themselves in a position of power without the skills to use it wisely. In some schools and workplaces there is no culture of respect for others; this can make bullying more likely.

Often the bully is as vulnerable a person as his or her victim and needs just as much support and help.

How common is bullying?

Sadly, bullying is very common. At least one in three children is bullied at some point. Around one in ten experience bullying which is persistent, lasting six months or more. It has been estimated that 26,000 counselling sessions take place each year for children as a result of bullying. Boys tend to bully more than girls.

Most young people experience cyberbullying - as the victim, as the person doing the bullying or as a bystander.

Bullying issues are reported in around one in ten places of work. The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) helpline receives 20,000 calls per year related to bullying or harassment.

Anyone can be a victim of bullying. However, children or adults who are seen as 'different' are more likely to be bullied. This includes:

• Being overweight or underweight.

• Being a different race, gender, or religion.

• Having a different sexual orientation.

• Having a disability; either a physical disability or a learning disability.

• Having a different appearance.

• Having an unusual name.

How are children and adults affected by bullying?

The impact of bullying is huge. It causes unhappiness and distress; it can even result in suicide. For children bullied at school, the effects can last long into adulthood, affecting the rest of their lives.

Being bullied at school can cause a child stress and a number of physical or mental health problems. Often children will not tell anyone they are being bullied. Some symptoms or changes in behaviour that might alert a parent, doctor or teacher to the possibility of bullying include:

• Physical health symptoms. A child may have tummy ache, or headaches as a result of the stress. Physical symptoms may go away at weekends or in holiday times.

• Not sleeping as well, or suddenly starting to have nightmares or night terrors.

• Not wanting to go to school, or playing truant from school.

• Changing the route or journey to school.

• Not doing as well at school as they were before.

• Starting to stammer.

• Bedwetting (in younger children).

• Unexplained cuts and bruises, or damaged possessions with no explanation.

• Being more worried or anxious, or starting to have panic attacks.

• Appearing to be low or depressed.

• Self-harming behaviour, or suicide attempts.

Signs that cyberbullying is taking place can include some of the above but also:

• Being upset after using the internet or phone.

• Being very secretive about online activities and phone use.

• Sudden increase or decrease in texting, gaming or the use of social media.

Bullying in the workplace or home can cause many symptoms for adults. These include:

• Physical symptoms of stress: tummy aches, headaches, higher blood pressure when checked. Stress can cause illnesses such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and stomach ulcers.

• Worry, anxiety disorders and panic attacks.

• Low self-esteem and self-confidence.

• Depression.

• Not sleeping well (insomnia).

• Taking a lot of time off work.

• Thinking about suicide, or even committing suicide.

What are the long-term effects of bullying?

The effects of bullying at school can go on long after the child has grown up. Children who have been bullied are more likely to:

• Have lower academic qualifications and less good jobs.

• Have lower incomes.

• Have difficulty staying in jobs and managing their finances.

• Have difficulty making friends and keeping friends.

• Have difficulty making long-term relationships with a partner.

• Have mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder and personality disorder.

• Have poorer general health.

Bullying in the workplace can also affect physical and mental health in the long term. It can also cause problems as a result of a lot of time off work, affecting future career opportunities.

How to deal with bullies

The most important thing to do is to tell somebody in authority. Most schools and all workplaces are obliged by law to prevent bullying continuing. As we have seen, bullying causes a huge amount of health consequences and the only real way to treat and prevent these is to stop the bullying.

For bullying at school, children or adolescents and/or their parents should approach a teacher to discuss the situation and its impact. This will usually be a form teacher, or head of year, or the school may have a nominated person. Schools are obliged by law to have anti-bullying policies.

It is not advisable for parents themselves to approach the parent of the alleged bully. Parents can help by being supportive and caring and by working with the school to deal with the issue.

Schools should also be supportive and work out a plan to stop the bullying. It should be possible for the school to arrange counselling for the victim to help deal with the situation. Counselling should help to prevent bullying affecting current health and it should help to prevent it from happening again in the future.

In the event of cyberbullying, people of any age should be advised not to respond to hurtful posts and that they should save the evidence. Depending on the situation, it should be reported to a schoolteacher, a parent, or the police. It may also be appropriate to report bullying to the social media network or website being used. Numbers or email addresses can be blocked to prevent getting hurtful messages.

In the workplace, people should report bullying to their manager or to the Human Resources (HR) department of large companies. Those who find it difficult to discuss this with their manager or HR directly may consider talking to a trade union representative or to the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS).

There are a number of support groups listed at the end of this leaflet with lots of information on sources of help and advice for those who are being bullied. If, despite trying to deal with the situation, you still feel unwell as a result of the stress of being bullied, see your GP for further advice.

Can bullying be prevented?

Schools and workplaces are required by law to have plans in place to help prevent bullying. Schools often have anti-bullying projects or teaching. Children are taught how to recognise bullying to help them not join in if they find themselves as bystanders where others are bullying. They are shown how it feels to be bullied.

They should know the school policy about bullying, so they know what to do if they come across it. Staff should be trained to manage bullying situations. They may also need training so they can help children at risk of bullying due to special needs or differences. An atmosphere of respecting each other is needed, in which it does not matter if people are different from each other. For this reason, many schools and some workplaces also now actively try to celebrate differences and diversity in its pupils, staff and workforce to include and protect those who tend to be excluded and victimised. On a wider scale, laws on discrimination and harassment also help prevent bullying.

At home, parents and carers can reinforce the learning about safe use of the internet and social media which is taught at school. Emphasise to children that they should:

• Keep personal information private.

• Not post any images, comments or information which could be harmful to themselves or to others.

• Not say anything via social media which they would not say face to face.

• Not respond to cyberbullying. Save evidence to show a parent or teacher.

• Tell their parents if any online communications worry them.

Parents should monitor their children's use of the internet and check that any sites they use are age-appropriate. In a supportive, caring home, children are more likely to tell parents about bullying, so that the problem can be dealt with.