Melinda Hutchings: It Will Get Better: Finding Your Way Through Bullying & Cyberbullying

Session description:

Children who are bullied are more likely to have higher levels of stress, anxiety, depression and illness. Bullying is the fourth most common reason young people seek help from children’s help services. A quarter of school children experience cyberbullying and some victims don’t report incidences to their teachers for fear of losing access to new technologies. Cyber-bullying is more prevalent in older children with a third of 14-17 year olds reporting that they have been cyber-bullied compared to one in five 10-13 year olds.

It’s hard enough to feel confident at the best of times and almost impossible if you’re a victim of bullying. Bullies will try to undermine someone’s self esteem by intimidation and often recruit others to join in. Cyberbullying is widespread due to technology, and very real in making people feel alienated and violated, thus shattering their self esteem. The anonymity means people who normally would shy away from face-to-face confrontations become bold because they can hide behind their computer or phone.

Topics:

What is bullying? The real life horror of a teen I interviewed who was stalked online. The trauma of a teen I interviewed after her ‘friend’ logged on to MSN using her username and password and emailed her friends divulging secrets. Phone and internet safety tips. How to hold on to your self-confidence if you are being bullied or cyberbullied. What to do if you or someone you know is being bullied or cyberbullied How/where to find support.