Bullying Blog Articles

Exclusion at Work

When we think about exclusion in relation to bullying, we often think of the isolation and humiliation that occurs in the school playground when a bully picks on an individual. However, this type of bullying often occurs in a work setting too. Workplace bullies often use the tactic of exclusion, which is a form of social ostracism, to target someone…

Anti-Bullying Week 2024:

‘Choose Respect’

Anti-Bullying Week (ABW) is organised by the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA) and this year it takes place from 11th to 15th November 2024. The theme for this year is ‘Choose Respect’…

The Role of the Intervener in Bullying

In our final article to support Anti-Bullying Week 2023, we are looking at the role of the intervener in cases of bullying. We will explore ways in which interveners can ‘make a noise about bullying’ to help support the target…

The Role of the Follower in Bullying

This article in our series for Anti-Bullying Week 2023 looks at the role of those who follow and support bullies. Why would anyone want to cheer on a bully or support their harmful behaviour? We will explore this issue and examine some of the reasons why some people encourage bullies and provide a supportive environment for bullying…

The Role of the Bystander in Bullying

In this series of articles to coincide with Anti-Bullying Week 2023, we will examine the roles individuals play in relation to bullying behaviour. This article examines the role of the bystander. What exactly is a bystander and how can we encourage such ones to ‘make a noise about bullying’ in order to help prevent any negative behaviour…

The Role of the Target in Bullying

This blog, which is part of our series for Anti-Bullying Week 2023, focuses on the role of the target in bullying. Is there such a thing as a typical bullying target? Are some people more likely to be targeted by bullies than others…

The Role of the Bully in Bullying

In our latest blog series for Anti-Bullying Week 2023, we are looking at the different roles involved in bullying. Obviously, when we think of bullying, the first person that springs to mind is the bully. It is therefore important to find out why people bully, and how bullying can be prevented…

Make a Noise About Bullying

Anti-Bullying Week is organised by the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA) and takes place from 13th to 17th November 2023. This week provides an opportunity for organisations to run anti-bullying events and activities which promote diversity and inclusion…

Gaslighting and Coercive Control

Gaslighting and coercive control are both types of bullying. It is important to understand the meaning of these terms so that you can recognise it when it occurs. To coincide with Anti-Bullying Week 2021, this blog will highlight…

Bullying of Women

As part of Anti-Bullying Week 2021, we are looking at the bullying of women and how it has increased in recent years, particularly since the outbreak of the coronavirus. This is a diverse subject which can also be covered by the…

Bullying in the Workplace

As part of Anti-Bullying Week 2021, it is important to highlight that bullying is not just a school problem — adults are also affected by bullying. In fact, the bullying culture among adults in the workplace can be quite significant…

Immigrant Bullying

The recent conflict in Afghanistan has raised the issue of immigration once again as thousands of refugees scrambled to flee the country. According to the United Nations, up to half a million Afghans could leave the area by…

United Against Bullying and Cyberbullying

This year’s Anti-bullying Week runs from Monday 16th–Friday 20th of November and the theme is: ‘United Against Bullying’. The last part of the Anti-Bullying Alliance manifesto for this year states…

The Long-Term Effects of Bullying

In conjunction with anti-bullying week (the theme for #ABW2020 is: ‘United Against Bullying’) this blog will look at the long-term effects of bullying. Whether it is bullying in schools, bullying in the workplace or online bullying…

Workplace Bullying

The term ‘Sunday Scaries’ is often associated with returning to work on a Monday morning after the weekend. Although it might seem a light-hearted or comical expression, many people experience this feeling, and…

Anti-Bullying Week 2020

It is Anti-Bullying Week from 16th–20th November 2020. The theme for this year is: ‘United Against Bullying’ and it starts off with Odd Socks Day on the Monday to kick-start the week. Odd Socks Day is a way to celebrate…

Anti-Bullying Week 2019

It’s that time again — Anti-Bullying Week 2019. This year’s theme is: “Change Starts With Us”.

What does this mean? It means we are all responsible and we all have a part to play in combating bullying. Whether this is bullying in schools, workplace bullying or online bullying…

Homophobic Bullying

The graphic image of the two women on the Camden night bus in London on 30th May 2019 was truly shocking. This unprovoked attack was a case of vile homophobic bullying. The bloodied and distraught faces of the two innocent women caused shock and outrage. The UK is largely an inclusive and tolerant nation. However, this vile incident highlights the bigoted view that many…

The Bullying Epidemic in Schools

A shocking report by the Teaching and Learning International Survey (TALIS) has indicated that England is ranked highest in the world for bullying and cyberbullying among students. This survey, which was reported in a number of daily papers including the Telegraph, revealed that 13.9% of head teachers reported that students had been targets of online bullying…

How to Deal with Bullying

Our final blog in conjunction with Anti-Bullying Week 2018 looks at how to deal with bullying.

The areas discussed are:

• how to deal with bullies…

Educating Children from a Young Age About Bullying

This blog discusses the issue of educating children from a young school age about bullying. In general, if children are taught from a young age that bullying is unacceptable, these lessons and values will carry on into adulthood. Bullying education in schools is vital, as is an anti-bullying policy which teachers must be familiar with…

Tackling Workplace Bullying

Bullying at work is a serious problem and Anti-Bullying Week is a good time for companies to examine their employment policies regarding bullying.

Tackling bullying in a workplace setting can be a complex and delicate issue because what constitutes bullying can be incredibly subjective. So what defines bullying in the workplace? After all, what one person takes to heart, another person…

The Link Between Bullying and Substance Abuse

This blog is going to examine the link between bullying and substance abuse. As discuseed in our previous blog, there is a ink between bullying and mental health issues, but what do bullying and substance abuse have in common? To answer this, it is important to look at the relationship between bullying and substance abuse. The term substance abuse is not limited to just drugs and alcohol…

The Effects of Bullying on Mental Health

Following on from our blog on bullying in secondary schools, this article is going to examine the effects of bullying on mental health.

Bullying and mental health are two factors that tend to go hand in hand, but can bullying cause mental illness in children? Is the statement that ‘bullying leads to mental health problems’ always the case…

Bullying in Secondary Schools

This blog is going to discuss the issue of bullying in secondary schools. It will discuss the types and effects of bullying and also how to tackle bullying in secondary schools.

Bullying can be defined as the on-going abuse of another person by physical and mental means. The major problem with bullying in secondary schools is that it is conducted out of sight of the victim’s parents or loved ones…

Social Media and Bullying

To kick start our blogs in conjunction with Anti-Bullying Week 2018, the first subject we are covering is social media and bullying. As social media has such an extensive audience and influence today, the negative side of it is the alarming amount of cyberbullying that occurs via social media. It is important to understand the role that the internet has in bullying and how cyberbullying…

Anti-Bullying Week 2018

Anti-Bullying Week is with us again on Monday 12th–Friday 16th November — a time for schools, youth organisations and businesses everywhere to look at ways of preventing and tackling bullying.

Does your school or organisation have a robust anti-bullying policy in place? Does everyone know what to do if they are being bullied or if they know of someone else who is the target of bullying…

Dealing with Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying is a word we hear a lot today, but many people are unaware how prevalent it is.

Anyone can be a target of bullies. Bullying is not restricted to a certain age, race, gender, religion or sexuality. In fact, cyberbullying has become one of the most pervasive forms of bullying mainly due to the increase in technology…

Anti-Bullying Week 2017

This week is Anti-Bullying Week and as always it is time for schools, youth organisations and businesses throughout the country to examine their anti-bullying policies and put measures in place to deal with bullying and other unacceptable behaviour.

Bullying is a pattern of deliberate behaviour that causes physical or emotional distress to the target…

How Does it Make You Feel When You Recall that Time?

I still have the odd nightmare about the bullying I experienced, even 42 years after leaving school. I still feel angry and resentful to a certain extent because I was denied a normal school life by bullies. It has taken me a long time to build up any kind of confidence. Although I’ll never be the most confident person in the world, I have started to feel better in recent years…

What Did Your School/Teachers Do?

I’ve already mentioned what happened when my mother went to see the headmaster of my secondary school. Nothing really changed — in fact it actually made the bullying worse. I didn’t find the teachers approachable. I’m sure some of them must have known I was being bullied, but they didn’t do or say anything to me. They probably thought I should have stuck up for myself, but how could I when nearly the whole class was against me…

What Did Your Parents Do?

My father worked long hours, often seven days a week. He did go to my primary school once to see the headmaster when he manhandled me.

My mother came into secondary school with me once and I was asked to name the worst offenders which I did. Four boys were brought to the headmaster’s office and later caned…

The Torture of Bullying

Some people might feel that using the word ‘torture’ about bullying is a bit of an exaggeration; but that is what it can feel like when you’re on the receiving end of it.

Mentally, your emotions are all over the place. You start to feel totally worthless and can even start to dislike yourself, thinking, “Well, I must be really ugly, stupid, etc, if all these people seem to think so”. Even though you know in your heart that you’re not, you can’t help feeling that maybe you are…

Who Did You Tell About the Bullying?

When the bullying first started I told my family. My father worked long hours and couldn’t really take time off work to do anything about it. He did go to my primary school to see my headmaster once, but I can’t remember anything really changing and the bullying continued…

My Little Victory Over the Bullies

I remember an incident at school when I was about 13. One of my tormentors (not one of the worst, I should add), had really upset me by what he said to me on that particular day.

If I recall correctly, it was the end of morning lessons and lunchtime. I knew our next lesson in the afternoon would be French, so I waited until everyone had left the classroom…

How Did You Feel at the Time?

The bullying I endured had a big effect on me physically and mentally. Apart from feeling physically sick most of the time, I also felt very depressed and suicidal. I used to find it hard to sleep at night with the thought of what the following day had in store for me. In the morning I would get headaches and stomach aches just thinking about school…

What Form Did the Bullying Take? What was Done/Said?

Some people say that bullying is a normal part of school life. It isn’t and it shouldn’t be. Also, the old saying, ‘sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me’, is untrue. The mental cruelty of bullying is often a lot worse than physical bullying…

Anti-Bullying Week 2013

National Anti-Bullying Week 2013 takes place from 18th–22nd November. This year the focus is on cyberbullying and it provides an opportunity to examine the use of new technologies — the aim is to use them as a means to promote positive communication rather than cyberbullying…

Limerick Cyberbullying Forum 2013

Cyberbullying is rarely out of the news and we regularly hear reports where abusive messages have been spread by email, Facebook and Twitter as well as other social networking sites. In extreme cases, young people have been driven to suicide because they were unable to cope with the emotional trauma of being cyberbullied. Cyberbullying is clearly a very serious challenge for parents…

Anti-Bullying Week 2012

Anti-Bullying Week is here again and it is a fantastic opportunity for organisations and schools all over the country to examine their anti-bullying policies

Bullying is a regular form of deliberate behaviour that causes the target physical or emotional distress and can be carried out by an individual or a group over a period of time…

Cyberbullying

In our technology-driven world, cyberbullying is fast becoming the bullying method of choice. Cyberbullying takes place via text messages, emails, instant messages, online forums, chat rooms, social networks etc. Because of the anonymous nature of this type of bullying, it can be difficult to trace the people responsible…

Why Do Some Schools not Recognise Bullying?

Some head teachers/principals are reluctant to admit their school has a bullying problem. This can happen for a number of reasons. Some may be worried about the effect this admission will have on the school’s reputation, while others are concerned about the time and money required to deal effectively with bullying…

The ‘No Blame’ Approach to Bullying

Many schools throughout the world use a method of dealing with bullying called the ‘no blame’ approach. It is also known as the ‘shared concern’ method, as well as the ‘support group’ approach and was introduced in Sweden by Anatol Pikas…