According to a 2019 report by Ditch The Label, 22% of young people aged 12-20 said they had experienced bullying within the last year. 45% reported being on the receiving end of bullying behaviour once a month and 31% said they are bullied weekly.

Bullying can have a profound impact on young people’s mental health, so this Anti-Bullying Week we’re considering how this year’s theme, Reach Out, can help put a stop to bullying.

Coordinated by the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA), Anti-Bullying Week takes place from 14-18 November. 

In 2021, the campaign was marked by 80% of UK schools, reaching over 7.5 million children and young people. This year, the ABA is calling on all of us – at school, at home, in the community, or online – to reach out, show we care, and offer each other support.

The impact of bullying on young people’s mental health

Bullying affects millions of young people – and there’s no denying it has a serious impact. Children who are being bullied can feel helpless, fearful, isolated and embarrassed.

More than 60% of young people who have experienced bullying in the last year said it had a moderate to extreme impact on their mental health and reported feeling depressed (45%), anxious (41%) and experiencing suicidal thoughts (33%) and self-harm (26%) as a result.

Young people with mental health, emotional, or behavioural difficulties as a result of being bullied need support from schools that doesn’t leave them feeling stigmatised or vulnerable. 

The most effective anti-bullying and mental health support involves collaboration between school staff, parents and students.

The role of schools in tackling bullying

The first step in tackling bullying is ensuring school staff are equipped to spot the signs of bullying. Warning signs that a child is being bullied might include:

  • Injuries they won’t explain
  • Lost or damaged clothing or possessions
  • Increased sickness absence
  • Changes in eating habits
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Loss of engagement and declining grades
  • Avoiding other students and isolating themselves
  • Self-harm or other self-destructive behaviour

> For more information on the warning signs of bullying, and how to spot whether a child might be bullying others, see stopbullying.gov

As well as being able to spot the signs of bullying, schools must then ensure staff know how to report it and take action with a clearly defined process including:

  • A public statement outlining the school’s stance on bullying
  • A code of conduct for students which outlines the consequences of bullying
  • A clear chain of command for reporting and escalating incidents
  • A reassurance of confidentiality for students who report bullying

Crucially, schools must ensure their students feel able to talk about bullying and how it affects their emotional well-being. Creating a space that feels safe to have these difficult conversations will only result from a united, whole-school approach which takes the culture of bullying to task.

> Read more about the importance of a whole-school approach to mental health

According to the ABA, a whole-school approach to anti-bullying is:

  • Cohesive
  • Collective
  • Collaborative 

Anti-bullying campaigns, policies and training must be strategically constructed and involve, at the very least, the entire school leadership team. Evidence suggests that the most successful anti-bullying initiatives in schools involve everyone – pupils, teachers, support staff, parents and governors.

How can you Reach Out about bullying?

We can only create change if we all commit to challenging bullying behaviour wherever we see it. 

It starts with reaching out and showing your support. You can do this publicly on social media using the hashtags #AntiBullyingWeek and #ReachOut on Instagram, TikTok, or Twitter.

Parents, teachers and policy-makers all have a responsibility to stand up to bullies and make it safe for young people to reach out. We can also all reflect on our own behaviour and how we can be positive role models for kindness, compassion and inclusion.

Free anti-bullying resources for schools

The ABA has plenty of free, actionable teaching resources and themed assemblies for schools for Anti-Bullying Week – you can download them here.

More support to tackle bullying in schools

If you’re a young person experiencing bullying and you don’t feel able to talk to a teacher or family member, call Childline on 0800 11 11 or visit childline.org.uk.

If you’re a parent or carer and you’re concerned a young person is being bullied, call Family Lives on 0808 800 2222 for more advice and support. 

mdeducational Foundation places qualified mental health professionals into secondary schools, supporting young people through tailored intervention strategies designed to give them the tools they need to thrive. If you’re interested in working with us to support your young people in their well-being, contact us today.