Bullying is a very serious issue which can have traumatic consequences. If you are being bullied you should tell someone straight away.

The Anti Bullying Alliance has defined bullying as:

• Repetitive, willful or persistent.
• Intentionally harmful, carried out by an individual or group.
• An imbalance of power leaving the victim feeling defenseless.

Remember that you are not alone. It’s not your fault. Talk to someone you can trust and do it today.

What can you do?

Tell someone. If you can’t tell your parents, tell a friend or someone at your school.

How?

• Approach a teacher or support worker or someone else you trust.
• Tell Childline on 0800 11 11 or have a look at their website.

What if you’re not ready to tell someone?

The hardest thing about being bullied is telling someone about it. Try to avoid the bullies and stay away from the places they go. Find out about the anti-bullying policy at your school and take action.

Bullying by text messages and email

Being bullied by text or email can be just as traumatic as being bullied in person and you shouldn’t ignore or dismiss it. If you are being bullied by text, make sure you:

• Inform your parents or teacher.
• Only give your mobile number to people you trust.
• If you are really worried about the type of messages you are getting, report it to the police.
• Keep a log of when messages are sent.