Bullying can affect anyone and everyone, the people who are bullied, the people who bully and the people who witness the bullying. Bullying is linked to many negative behaviours and outcomes including negative impacts on mental health, substance use and suicide. It is important to talk to young people to determine whether bullying or something else is a concern or something they have experienced.

Young People Who are Bullied

Young people who are bullied can experience negative physical, social, emotional, academic, and mental health issues.

Young people who are bullied are more likely to experience the following issues:

• Depression and anxiety, changes in sleep and eating patterns and loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy. These issues may continue into adulthood.
• Increased feelings of sadness and loneliness.
• Decreased academic achievement with lower test scores and school participation. They are more likely to miss, skip, or drop out of school.

Self Harm Amongst Teenagers Due To Bullying

During a recent study there was a most alarming and steep rise in self-harm statistics among teenagers, according to The BBC News. 

Self-harm among young people aged 10 to 19 has risen since 2001. The study, which used reliable national databases to look at trends, reported a rate of self-harm at 37 per 10,000 girls and 12.3 per 10,000 boys. There were several other notable findings, including a 68% rise in rates of self-harm among girls aged 13 to 16 years, since 2011.  Some cases involved the use of drugs or alcohol and social divide – finding higher rates in the more deprived areas. We are aware of the possibility that many cases of self-harm go unreported. Teenagers and young people fear humiliation and are often reluctant to ask for the help they may need. Is it possible that these self-harm cases are a cry for help or an expression of anger?

Below are some links for organisations that can help if needs be:

harmless.org.uk

mind.org.uk

bacp.co.uk

'Strength In Numbers' can be the difference between success and failure.

As we have seen on many occasions in movies or on animal programmes that Strength In Numbers makes a big difference in the animal kingdom as Strength In Numbers makes it possible for wolves to challenge a grizzly bear, for the wildebeest to hold off lions, for chimpanzees to chase away leopards and so on. We have seen time and time again the power of unity and what a difference it makes when people or species work together to achieve a common goal, sometimes it's actually of paramount importance to stand together just to survive. 

We know that if we "Stand Strong" and "Stand Together" we can make that difference that counts.

There's great 'strength in numbers', once we show we are together, they can't stop us.