Contact us

Request further information

What is it?

Bullying is when a child is picked on by another child or group of children. There are two types of bullying; open and hidden, both of which can be equally hurtful.

Examples of open bullying are physical violence, shouting or swearing at someone in public or private, humiliating someone in front of friends, ignoring or isolating someone in public deliberately, labeling and name calling or sarcasm.

Examples of hidden bullying are persistent criticism, spreading unfounded rumours, ignoring, excluding and isolating the person and making threats.

How common is bullying?

Bullying is very common, and probably happens in most schools. It has been estimated that 1 in 4 primary school pupils and 1 in 10 secondary school pupils are being bullied at any one time.

Other information

Sometimes bullying can be unconscious - the bully may be unaware of what they are doing to someone else - this is particularly common with children who are bullied themselves trying to find a vent for the anger and pain they feel from their own experiences.

Why do people bully other people?

• Bullies often have a need to control others
• It is essentially a cowardly behaviou - the bully hides their own inadequacies, making out that their own faults belong to the other person.

What sort of people are most at risk?

Children who are different in some way are more likely to be bullied - they may be quiet, alone at playtime or smaller than average so unable to defend themselves. They may also be of a different religion, have a speech defect such as a stammer, or may have a learning disability.

What are the signs?

• Tearfulness, loss of self esteem
• Acute anxiety, panic attacks
• Not being able to sleep, or being constantly tired even if they are sleeping
• Losing appetite
• Withdrawing from other people
• Irritability and mood swings
• Some minor physical complaints such as headaches or stomach aches

What can being bullied lead to?

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Eating disorders, including anorexia

Top of page

learn the facts. stop the stigma. start now

[Home] [About this project] [Activities] [News & Updates] [Causes] [Abuse] [Bullying] [The 10 signs] [Conditions] [Reactions] [Help!]

Although we have attempted to gather the information provided here from reputable sources, we cannot guarantee the accuracy of the content. In particular please note that the information is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice. If any of the content of this site causes you concerns please seek further advice.