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. 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. 

How do I support a young person who is experiencing bullying? 

• Reassure the young person that coming to you was the right thing to do.   
• Be a listening ear: The young person may want a space to talk things through.
• Establish the facts: It is important to establish exactly what happened. 
• Find out what the young person wants to do moving forward. Identify what choices they have and which next steps they can take in solving the problem.  

How do I speak to young people about bullying?  

Bullying can be a particularly sensitive issue for young people, so it is important to be aware of any sensitivities when discussing this with a group of young people. Refrain from discussing experiences that identify or relate specifically to young people in the group.  

It is helpful to discuss what young people can do to support a friend that is being bullied. Begin by asking young people what they would do in this situation. Would they tell a teacher? Would they encourage their friend to tell a teacher? Enable open and honest discussion where problem solving could occur for those not confident on what to do in this situation. 

Advise young people that they can implement the following tools in order to help build resilience during what can often be a tough time. 

Choice 

Often, Bullying can take place within friendship groups. It is important to remind young people that everyone has choices. You have the choice to walk away from any friendships that negatively impact your life. Remind young people that friends change throughout life and that your friends should impact your life in a positive way.  

Sense of proportion

Acknowledge to the group that if they are experiencing bullying, it can lead to feelings of helplessness. Remind young people that what they are experiencing will not last forever. Speaking to a trusted adult may help them to address and rectify the issue. 

Building support networks

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.

Can friends become bullies? 

Bullying can often occur within friendship groups and can be passed off as ‘banter’ between friends. It is important for young people to distinguish the difference. Begin by asking young people what role they have in their friendship group. Are they usually at the centre of conversations? Or do they prefer to take a back seat? 

It can be helpful to ask young people about their current beliefs around what a friendship should look like. This can encourage reflection on any positive/negative emotions young people may have attached to their current relationships and why this may be. 

You may wish to end this discussion by talking about choice. Everyone has choices. You cannot force someone to be your friend and vice versa. Your friends should support you and others in showing kindness while adding to your life in a positive way. It is important to reflect on your friendships and act on any incidents that could be interpreted as bullying. 

Lastly, remind them that everyone has the power to choose their friends and no one can force someone to be a friend. Friends should bring kindness and positivity into your life. Encourage them to reflect on their friendships and take action if they notice something that looks like bullying.

Our Bloom on Clic E-learning modules give educators guidance on how to discuss friendships and bullying with young people.

I’m an educator. How can I support my students?

If you are an educator or work in student support, Bloom and Your Resilience provides school staff with the opportunity to develop their skills and confidence in having open conversations about mental health and support young people in transitioning to higher education. Learn more about the different Young People’s Programmes and contact us for more details.

bullying in the workplace

Workplace bullying is a troubling issue that affects employees in various industries. Bullying can undermine a person’s wellbeing, confidence and job satisfaction. Almost a quarter of Scots reported being bullied in the workplace. In this section, we will explore what workplace bullying looks like and why it is crucial to recognise and combat this detrimental behaviour in professional settings. 

What are examples of bullying in the workplace? 

• Verbal Abuse: This includes using offensive language, shouting or making demeaning comments towards a coworker, which can create a hostile work environment.
• Intimidation: ntimidation 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 co–worker 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 co–worker in front of others, can be deeply humiliating and detrimental to a person’s self-esteem.

I’m being bullied. What should I do?

Document incidents

Keep a record of bullying incidents, including dates, times, locations,and individuals involved. This documentation can be helpful if you need to 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 or team

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. 

I’m an employer. How can I support my employees?

If you’re a rural employer with a team of fewer than 50 members, discover the transformative potential of our Rural Connections training programme. It’s designed to elevate mental health awareness, ignite meaningful conversations and empower you to confront and conquer the stigma surrounding bullying and mental wellbeing. 

If you’re seeking a proactive approach to mental health and wellbeing, consider Insight into Mental Health. The following programme focuses on unaddressed mental health issues that lead to staff turnover, such as bullying.  

Our Advice and Support Service is open Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm (closed for lunch between 12.30pm and 1.30pm), where advisers can signpost you to local support that most fits your needs, including our Change Mental Health services. We offer initial advice on money worries and help to deal with emergencies.

Contact 0808 8010 515, email us at advice@changemh.org or fill out the enquiry form on the Advice and Support Service page.