Experiences with bullying are tough. They can leave us feeling isolated, hurt, and afraid. When we’re being bullied it can also be hard to know what to do about it. Being bullied for being LGBTQ+ can be even harder. Being targeted for our gender identity and/or sexuality can cause a lot of damage to our self-esteem and our ability to be ourselves. The resources below have been created for you to think through your feelings and outlines actions you can take to get help.
What is bullying?
Bullying is behaviour that happens over time and causes someone to feel hurt, frightened, left out and threatened. Bullying can happen in person or online. Below are some examples of bullying behaviours as outlined in Respect for All – The Scottish Government’s national guidance on tackling bullying:
- Being called names, teased, put down or threatened face to face/online.
- Being hit, tripped, pushed, or kicked.
- Having belongings taken or damaged.
- Being ignored, left out or having rumours spread about you (face-to-face and/or online).
- Sending abusive messages, pictures or images on social media, online gaming platforms or phone.
- Behaviour which makes people feel like they are not in control of themselves or their lives (face-to-face and/or online).
- Being targeted because of who you are or who you are perceived to be (face to face and/or online).
Cyber bullying: Bullying can happen in person or online. It can be hard to know whether you are being cyber bullied. If any of the above has taken place online, then this is still bullying. If you are unsure or want to talk through what has been happening, we are here.
It’s never ok for someone to intimidate you or make you feel bad about who you are. Bullying is not ok. Hopefully some of the tips and ideas we’ve included will enable you to get help, so you feel supported and safe. If you are currently being bullied and want to talk about it and the ways that you could get support, you can chat to us. We’re here to help. Below are resources to help you with how you are feeling, what action you can take and who can help.
For more information on what you can do and guidance for the adults in your life you can visit: https://respectme.org.uk/
