bullying and mental health
Bullying is a universal problem that affects people of all ages, backgrounds and levels of society. It takes on various forms, including verbal, physical and cyberbullying, occurring in diverse settings like schools, workplaces and online spaces.
Bullying happens when someone intentionally and repeatedly causes harm to another person. The person being bullied is usually seen by the bully as smaller, weaker or less powerful than they are. The harm may be physical or verbal or may be threats of harm or other forms of humiliation or intimidation, such as purposeful exclusion or spreading rumours.
Although often bullying is associated with children and young people, people of all ages can be affected. In fact, as many as 1 in 4 employees have experienced conflict or abuse in the last 12 months at their workplace.
The impact of bullying extends far beyond the initial harm, leading to severe emotional and psychological distress and leaving deep emotional scars.
how does bullying affect mental health?
Bullying leaves more than just physical bruises; it can deeply wound one’s mental health. Research has revealed a distressing connection between bullying and a range of mental health conditions.
depression
Bullying often leads to deep sadness and hopelessness. The constant hurtful behaviour and the feeling of being powerless can lead to depression. In severe instances, the individual may turn to self-harm or consider suicide.
anxiety
Bullying is a significant source of anxiety. Victims may constantly worry about when the next incident will happen and how to avoid the bullies, potentially prompting panic attacks. In some cases, bullying can cause severe trauma and contribute to development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
loneliness
Bullying can isolate individuals, making them feel like they have no one to turn to or trust. It can result in social withdrawal, leaving victims feeling lonely and disconnected from their loved ones. Loneliness can exacerbate mental health issues and make it more challenging to cope with the effects of bullying.
young people & bullying
Bullying for young people can be particularly harmful as it can impact their lives as they transition into adulthood. Bullying may involve hurtful words, repeated teasing, negative discussion about someone’s appearance/character, spreading rumours and so on. In Scotland, over 1 in 5 young people report being bullied via multiple forms, such as in school or online.
This section will give you some tips on how to discuss bullying with young people and how best to support a young person who is being bullied.
- Reassure the young person that coming to you was the right thing to do and that the bullying is not their fault. Try to remain calm, even if it upsetting to hear.
- Be a listening ear: The young person may want a space to talk things through. It takes a lot of courage to speak up – they may be feeling embarrassed, ashamed or scared, so it’s important that they are heard.
- Establish the facts: It is important to establish exactly what happened and whether it is an isolated incident or part of an ongoing bullying pattern.
- Find out what they want to do moving forward: Identify what choices they have and which next steps they can take in solving the problem.
Bullying can be a really sensitive topic for young people, so it is important to be aware of any sensitivities or triggers when talking about it with them. In group settings, refrain from discussing experiences that identify or relate to specific people in the group.
Don’t wait for bullying to begin before you talk about it
If you are a parent, talking to your child about the signs of bullying and what the impacts are transparently helps build trust and safety. They will be more likely to turn to you if they are being bullied or witness it happening to someone else.
Discuss a scenario
Creating a hypothetical scenario, such as their friend is being bullied, can help young people understand what they would do and how they would help their friend. Would they tell a teacher? Would they encourage their friend to tell a teacher? These types of discussions can give young people the confidence to speak up if it ever happens.
Encourage an open dialogue
Many young people do not tell anyone about their experiences of bullying. It is important to encourage young people to reach out to a trusted person/network if they think they are being bullied.
Bullying can often occur within friendship groups, justifying it as ‘banter’ between friends. It is important that young people can learn to distinguish the difference.
It can be helpful to think about the dynamics in their group of friends and what healthy friendships look like to them. Is there someone who is always the butt of the joke? Is there someone is louder than the rest, acting as a leader? These dynamics can help to determine if someone in the group is being treated differently than the rest and may be being bullied.
Friends should bring kindness, positivity and happiness into your life, not anxiety, fear or hurt. Encourage young people to reflect on their friendships and how their friends make them feel. This can help them take action if they notice instances of bullying.
If you are an educator or work in student support, our Young People’s Programmes can provides school staff with the opportunity to develop their skills and confidence in having open conversations about mental health with children and young people. Contact our team for more details.
bullying in the workplace
Workplace bullying is a troubling issue that can affect employee across all industries. Bullying can undermine a person’s wellbeing, confidence and job satisfaction.
In this section, we will explore what workplace bullying looks like and why it is crucial to recognise and combat it in professional settings.
Verbal abuse
This includes using offensive language, shouting or making demeaning comments towards a colleague, which can create a hostile work environment.
Intimidation
Intimidation involves making threats, yelling or using aggressive body language to frighten or manipulate a colleague, leading to emotional distress.
Exclusion
Excluding someone from work-related activities, meetings or social gatherings can lead to feelings of isolation.
Cyberbullying
Harassing a colleague through electronic means, such as email, social media or messaging apps, is a growing concern in the digital age and can be emotionally damaging.
Public humiliation
Criticising or belittling a colleague in front of others can be deeply humiliating and detrimental to a person’s self-esteem.
Document incidents
Keep a record of bullying incidents, including dates, times, locations and individuals involved. This documentation can be helpful if you need to formally report the bullying.
Talk to a supervisor or HR
If you feel safe, report the bullying to your immediate supervisor or the human resources department. If you are a member of the union, ask for their support. They can help address the issue.
Use external resources
Consider seeking assistance from external organisations or hotlines specialising in workplace bullying if internal measures do not yield results.
Consider legal action
In extreme cases, consult with legal counsel about potential legal action to protect your rights and wellbeing.
Consider changing jobs
If workplace bullying persists and significantly affects your wellbeing despite attempts to address it, consider looking for a new job or transferring to a different department or team within your current organisation. Your mental and emotional health should always be a top priority.
- Cultivate a workplace culture that prioritises mental health: Change Mental Health provides a range of mental health training courses, including specialised programs for the workplace. Our training sessions help raise awareness, encourage open conversations and help tackle the stigma around bullying and mental health at work.
- Consider implementing an Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) to provide employees with counselling opportunities or mental health support if they are experiencing bullying.
support
Our National Advice and Support Service can help you and people you care for with mental health concerns and money worries.
We can link and signpost you to relevant local and national support, including our own Change Mental Health services, as well as supporting with debt, grants and benefits.
The service is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm (closed for lunch between 12.30pm to 1.30pm). Contact 0808 8010 515, email advice@changemh.org or fill in the form on the service webpage.
For full details about the service, visit the National Advice and Support Service webpage.
other support
- Childline: Childline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call Childline on 0800 1111 or talk via webchat to a counsellor if you are a child or young person looking for support.
- NSPCC Helpline: Advice for adults concerned about a child. Call 0808 800 5000 (Mon–Fri 10am – 4am) or email help@nspcc.org.uk (Mon – Sun 11am – 4pm)
- National bullying helpline: Offers advice, information and support for bullying within the workplace across the UK. Call the helpline on 0300 323 0169 (Open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday)
