Anti-bullying Week 2016 (14-18 November)

Posted: 3 November 2016 at 10:27 am

Anti-bullying week 2016 is being held between the 14th and 18th November with the theme ‘power for good’ and is organised by Anti-bullying Alliance.

They are launching a wear blue campaign and asking schools, organisations and individuals to wear blue on 18th November and donate to Bullying UK. This can be anything from blue jeans, blue top or you could wear something really out there and stand out for bullying.

Anyone can experience bullying, and at any time, whether that be at home, school, work or online.

Here are ditchthelabel.org top 10 tips to overcome bullying

1. Understand the bullying
   Bullying is a learnt behaviour. There are several reasons why people bully others, more often than not bullying can be a coping mechanism for people going through a stressful situation and it may be learnt from abuse or prejudice-based attitudes at home. Often people who bully are currently or have at some point been bullied themselves.
2. If you feel safe enough: speak to the person who is bullying you
   Sometimes the person who is bullying you may genuinely have no idea that it is affecting you. Equally, they are probably going through a difficult time themselves and will relate to how you’re feeling.
3. Never go through it in silence
   Bullying is something that affects the majotiry of people but alarmingly, we found that 45% of those who experience it fail to report it through embarrassment, fear or a lack of faith in support systems. It is important that you go through the appropriate reporting channels by firstly telling a teacher/parent/guardian/learning mentor or another responsible adult.
4. Is it a crime?
   Did you know that bullying is a criminal offence? If somebody physically or sexually attacks you, uses prejudice langauge towards you or shares your private information or images online these are all key signs that you should probably report it to the Police.
5. Don’t see yourself as the problem
   The reason people experience bullying is not because of their sexuality, gender identity, race, appearance, disability or any other unique factor; it is because of the attitude towards the factor. The person who is bullying you is the one with the issue, not you.
6. Deal with stress
   When you are going through a stressful situation it can be difficult to deal with it objectively if you keep it all to yourself. It is important to tell somebody that you trust; it doesn’t even have to be an adult, it could be a friend.
7. Even though you may want to, don’t isolate yourself
   We know it may feel like the best thing to do at the time, but it will only make things worse by silencing you and reducing your self-esteem. Often people who are bullied slip into a victim status and see themselves as victims. It’s important that you look beyond that and don’t let the bullying dicate who you are.
8. Look after your health
   Eating a good, clean diet and working out can really improve your physical and mental health and reduce stress. Reductions in stress increase your clarity and break down difficult situations, making them much easier to deal with. It is completely fine and okay to speak up about these issues and it is important that you seek emotional and mental health support from your GP, a therapist or counsellor.
9. Seek role models
   It is important to seek out positive role models to show you that plenty of people have been where you are right now and have managed to overcome it.
10. Lean on ditchthelabel
    As one of the UK’s largest anti-bullying charities they are always there for you.