Bullying can be emotional or physical harmful behaviour. Bullying can lead to self-doubt, lack of confidence, low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, self-harm and sometimes even suicide.
So what is bullying? It is difficult to define as it depends on the individuals involved. The National Bullying Alliance defines bullying as:
- Repetitive, willful or persistent behaviour
- Intentionally harmful, carried out by an individual or a group
- An imbalance of power leaving the victim feeling defenseless
Bullying can include taunting, hitting, pushing, taking belongings, text messaging, emailing, gossiping, excluding people as well as spreading hurtful and untruthful rumours. Bullying is not acceptable, and should not be tolerated. It is harmful to everyone involved, not just the person being bullied.
If you want to know more about bullying, including where to go for help and advice, visit the links below...