A person can experience bullying at any time in their lives, no matter how old they are, their gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation.
There are many reasons a person may bully another person. Some of the reasons may include:
Whatever the reason a person chooses to bully another person, bullying is not ok and there are no excuses for this behaviour.
Bullying can have a negative effect on a person’s emotional health and wellbeing, and can also have an effect on self-esteem.
If you are being bullied, you may start to feel anxious, unsafe, withdrawn or alone.
It is important to know that you are not alone and that you can ask for help at any time by talking to someone you trust, like a friend, colleague, parent or caregiver.
Taking the step to tell someone you are being bullied can be scary and takes courage, just remember you are not alone and do not have to suffer in silence.
What to do if you’re being bullied
If you think or know you are being bullied, it’s important to prioritise your safety and wellbeing. If you are in immediate physical danger call 999 to get urgent assistance.
If you can, try and remove yourself from the situation and cut the bully out of your life. This may not always be possible though, in which case talk to someone you trust like a friend, colleague, case worker or parent/caregiver to get some help and support.
Remember, you are not alone, and you do not deserve to be treated in this way.
If you are not sure what to do, or you’re worried about talking to someone you know, try one of the helplines below where you can talk to someone anonymously; many of these services are open 24 hours a day:
Samaritans
Call 116 123
This service operates 24 hours a day and calls made to this number are free of charge.
SHOUT
The UK’s first 24/7 crisis text service, SHOUT provides free, confidential, 24/7 text message support in the UK for anyone who is struggling to cope.
Text SHOUT to 85258
This service is free on all major mobile networks, for anyone in crisis, anytime.
Central Access Point
If you need urgent NHS mental health support, you can call the Mental Health Central Access Point, which is open 24/7.
Call 0808 800 3302
