I think that parents and teachers need to be aware that not all kids are nice and that bullying can occur to anyone and anytime. Talking to your child and preparing them for the realization that some people might not like you is important. Also teaching your children to be nice and to include others is just as important. The only thing I wish I'd known was that it's okay to talk to people about what is going on. It's going to help not hinder ... View more

It's my absolute pleasure  ... View more

Not everything in life is a happy event. Often it's those difficult moments that help moments that help mould you into who you will become.  If I had gone without bullying, I'm sure that I wouldn't be as strong, as compassionate or as caring as I am now. Being bullied has taught me so many things about myself and others. Hurt people hurt people. Being kind to others goes so far, and that's what I've strived to do ever since I dug myself out of that mess.   ... View more

@Maggiemay   I'm so pleased to hear your daughter is doing well. Often these events through life will help shape you into a much stronger, resiliant and kinder person. I hope that she experiences this.  ... View more

@Ngaio-RO   I think that the sites are perfect suggestion for parents- particuarly with teenagers whom are being bullied.  Whilst your teenager may blow you off in the initial conversation about the website, it's probably something they will turn to when it gets tough.  ... View more

I love what this campaign has tried to get across @Murgatroyd . One of the biggest things that helped when i was being bullied was making a friend and being able to talk to them and hang out with them during breaks.  ... View more

I found online support sites, such as ReachOut to be very helpful in high school.  I could look for solutions and validation to how i was feeling in the comfort and privacy of my own home.  ... View more

@Dani_   In primary school i was forced to see this old lady councellor who i found quite scary and I didn't talk much to her.  However, in high school, there were councellors whom were younger and a little more in tune with how i felt. I found they were quite helpful. This was especially prominant when i could take time out of class when i was overwhelmed with anxiety and talk about what was going on with someone who seemed to care.  I felt like they helped a little bit, but they weren't effective in helping me identify that some of the things I was experiencing were actually symptoms of depression.  ... View more

@Greencheckers   I changed schools in between year 3 and 4 and between 8 and 9.  I found moving in primary school particuarly difficult and stressful. The bullying actually increased when I moved. However, when i moved to a different high school, i found it to be very effective. I moved to a bigger school with more people who i could be friends with and avoid those who hurt me ... View more

@Murgatroyd   dedicate some time to your child. Take them out somewhere. Treat them and make them feel special. This will make the more likely to for them to open up to you.  Just be honest. Your child is going to see your love and concern. Tell them you want to help. Tell them it's not their fault. Ask them how you can help.  ... View more

The one thing that worked the best was talking with my parents.  Knowing they were on my side and that this wasn't my fault was SO important. These conversations NEED to occur. Victims of bullying often just want someone to talk to. They need to express their feelings and their pain in order to move on.  ... View more

I would recommend that teachers be aware of what is going on in the classroom. Often interactions and relationships between students can be toxic. Being aware and avoiding conflict is essential. In addtion, I would recommend trying to help bullied students by helping them find and make friends. I was very alone in my situation. I would also recommend that when dealing with diciplinary actions of those who bully, to identify the issues that are CAUSING the bullying and adress them, rather than bandaid solutions which often backfire onto the victim ... View more

@Ngaio-RO   I found this to be one of the biggest problems with school bullying.  A lot of the time the victim is blamed by the teachers for the conflict which can be horrifically damaging. I've suffered a lot of trust and self esteem issues due to this.  I think that the schools absolutley must intervene but the way in which they do it needs to change. In my experience, things like verbal and emotional bullying went unpunished because it's not as blatant as physical bullying. However, if left unattended by the school, it can also do damage. It's a fine line of choosing when, where and how to act.  ... View more

I can understand how it seems so unrealistic to be bullied at such a young age. @Murgatroyd I was always a bright child so understanding what was going on around me was something that i found easy. I think the teachers did notice, however a lot of their attempts to neutralize the conflict weren't effective.  In the very younger years, I had other girls pull my hair and paint my uniform and run away from me in the playground. A lot of these things teachers reacted to rather than be proactive in their approach. They often told me to ignore their behaviour or that it was my responsbility to walk away.    ... View more

@Maggiemay   great question    On a personal level, dealing with bullying can be stressful and cause a lot of anxiety. My best advice is to surround yourself with good people and things that make you happy. You have to remember that there is life and happiness outside of what you are experiencing and that it wont last forever.    If you're supporting someone who is dealing with bullying,  I'd strongly reccomend talking to them about it. I was often too scared to speak out. Conversations initiated by my parents and teachers helped me deal with a lot of what i was going through. Unending and unconditional support is paramount.  ... View more

@Dani_   Unfortunatley I didn't initiate a lot of conversations. I felt like i was to blame for a lot of what was happening to me and that nobody was supporting me.  ... View more

@Murgatroyd   It was mostly girls who picked on me in primary school. I did have a few incidents with boys in high school. However, a majority was from women.    From what i experienced, I felt very different to other girls my age. I was loud and had a big personality and wasn't skinny with perfectly straight hair like everyone else. That difference, I feel, was the reason I was bullied. I wasn't like everyone else. And that was seen as a bad thing in another child's eyes ... View more

Most of the bullying I experienced went for quiet a long time. I felt like i was targeted right from reception to year 7. I felt like a lot of it started as soon as I started school and it gradually esculated from there as many people began to join in.    I found it very difficult to talk to people about my experiences. My parents were preoccupied a lot so i felt like i couldn't open up to them. Often conversations about my experiences arose from incidents that resulted in teacher- parents communication ... View more

Hi everyone,    My name is Carissa and I'm 20years old and I'm currently a university student. I experienced bullying right through primary school and a little bit in high school. I was mostly targeted by women and was bullied in a range of different ways, such as verbally, physically and emotionally.  I'm happy to answer any questions you may have.  ... View more