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Bullying
Bullying
Bullying
Bullying is behaviour that is repeated and intended to cause psychological, social or p
hysical harm.
Bullying can be harmful to your mental health, your self-esteem and your social relati
onships.
People who bully often have low self-esteem.
If you are being bullied or you know of someone who is being bullied, there are ways
to stop it and places to go for advice and support.
On this page
What is bullying?
Different types of bullying
Why do people bully?
What are the signs of bullying?
What are the signs my child is being bullied?
How might bullying affect me or my child?
How can bullying be stopped?
Resources and support
Other languages
Related information on Australian websites
What is bullying?
Bullying is when people deliberately use words or actions repeatedly against an individual or
a group to cause physical, social and/or psychological harm. They usually want to make the p
erson feel less powerful or helpless.
Bullying can happen anywhere — at school, at work, at home, online, or by text messaging or
email. Bullying can come in different forms, all of which cause distress and pain for the perso
n who is being bullied.
Different types of bullying
There are many different types of bullying:
The different types of bullying
Verbal bu
Name calling, teasing, putting someone down, threatening to cause someone harm.
llying
Physical b Poking, hitting, punching, kicking, spitting, tripping or pushing someone, breaking someone’s thi
ullying s, pulling faces or making rude hand signals.
Social bull Lying, spreading rumours, playing horrible jokes, leaving someone out on purpose, embarrassing
ying meone in public.
Cyberbull Cyberbullying is using technology like email, mobile phones, chat rooms or networking sites to h
ying someone by sending hurtful messages, pictures or comments.
Bullying behaviour at work that is physically, mentally or socially threatening can include int
imidation, threats, exclusion, verbal or physical abuse. For more information or if you are bei
ng bullied at work, check the Fair Work Ombudsman’s Bullying in the workplace website.
Bullying is not the same as harassment. Harassment includes any unwelcome behaviour that
offends, humiliates or intimidates a person. While harassment can be an element of bullying,
harassment can be a one-off conflict or can happen between strangers. If these behaviours ha
ppen only once it is not bullying. Behaviour that involves conflict between equals, no matter
how inappropriate, is also not considered bullying. The behaviours alone don't define bullyin
g.
Why do people bully?
There are different reasons why people bully, including:
wanting to dominate others and improve their social status
having low self-esteem and wanting to feel better about themselves
having a lack of remorse or failing to recognise their behaviour as a problem
feeling angry, frustrated or jealous
struggling socially
being the victim of bullying themselves
Some children who bully may enjoy getting their own way. Others may like conflict and aggr
ession. Some may be thoughtless, rather than deliberately hurtful. Some may have difficulties
with health, schoolwork and self-esteem. Some may be emotionally neglected, bullied, abuse
d or be experiencing violence themselves.
Bullies are more likely to have lifelong issues such as depression or problems with aggression
.
Children can take on different roles in different circumstances. Those who are bullied in one s
ituation may be the bully in another.
What are the signs of bullying?
Bullying affects people in different ways, but some common signs of bullying include:
being unusually secretive and quiet
appearing oversensitive or weepy, or having angry outbursts
not sleeping properly
having physical injuries like bruises, cuts or scratches
becoming isolated, withdrawn, or losing interest in normal activities
having physical aches and pains like headaches or stomach aches
receiving more messages than usual via social media
What are the signs my child is being bullied?
Signs your child is possibly being bullied include any of the above, as well as:
not wanting to go to school or having no friends
having damaged or missing belongings
a child who has been toilet trained starts to wet their bed again
having physical aches and pains like headaches or stomach aches
receiving more messages than usual via social media
Bullying can happen to anyone at any age. Very few children tell anyone that they’re being b
ullied. They may feel weak, ashamed or frightened it will make the situation worse.
How might bullying affect me or my child?
Bullying affects everyone differently, but if you’re being bullied you may feel:
guilty because you think it’s your fault
hopeless because you don’t know how to get out of the situation
alone, with no one to help you
depressed and rejected by others
unsafe and afraid
confused and stressed
ashamed that it’s happening to you
Bullying can affect your mental health whatever your age. It can lead to loneliness, anxiety a
nd depression in children. People who are bullied in the workplace have a higher risk of expe
riencing depression and having suicidal thoughts.
If you are experiencing depression or having suicidal thoughts, call or text lifeline for su
pport, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Call Lifeline: 13 11 14, or text 0477 13 11 14
Remember, you have a right to feel safe and be treated with fairness and respect. Find out mo
re about your rights on the Australian Human Rights Commission website.
How can bullying be stopped?
If bullying is not challenged and stopped, it can contribute to a culture where bullying is toler
ated. If this occurs, everyone feels powerless to stop it.
If you are the person being bullied, you may need to use a few different strategies, such as:
talking to a person you trust
taking to someone you trust with you when you seek help or talk to the bully
seeking help from an agency or support service, such as those listed below
If you feel safe and confident, you can approach the bully about why their behaviour is not O
K.
We have a responsibility to respect and protect the rights of others. A bystander is someone w
ho sees or knows about bullying that is happening to someone else. Find out more about your
rights as a bystander on the Australian Human Rights Commission website.
If your child is being bullied:
help your child stay focused on finding a solution
assure your child it’s not their fault
talk to your child about different ways to relate to the bully and practise with them thr
ough role play
let your child know you will contact their school
If bullying is violent or threatening, call triple zero (000) and ask for the police.
Your employer has a legal responsibility to provide a safe workplace, and a duty of care whe
n it comes to your health and wellbeing at work. You can read more about workplace bullyin
g on the healthdirect Workplace bullying page, or the Fair Work Commission’s website.
Resources and support
If you have been bullied, or you have seen others being bullied, help is available:
Other languages
Do you prefer languages other than English? Health Translations offers translated factsheets
on bullying:
Signs of bullying
Some facts about bullying and violence
Types of bullying
Sources:
Australian Human Rights Commission (Harassment), Kids Helpline (Bullying), The Royal
Australian College of General
Practitioners (Childhood bullying can cause lifelong psychological damage), Fair Work
Ombudsman (Bullying in the workplace), Bullying No Way (Types of Bullying), Australian
Institute of Family
Studies (Helping your child stop bullying: A guide for Parents), Bullying No
Way (Signs of Bullying), Australian Human Rights
Commission (What is bullying? Violence, Harassment and Bullying Fact Sheet), Australian
Human Rights Commission (What can you do to stop bullies?)
Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.
Last reviewed: July 2022
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