Heading back to school has meant excitement for many Australian students – but for others, the torment of enduring bullying can make going to school incredibly stressful.
According to Kids Helpline, bullying has a range of negative consequences for those on the receiving end, including health issues, poor grades, low self-esteem and tragic outcomes.
yourtown CEO Tracy Adams leads the team responsible for delivering a range of youth-focused services, including Kids Helpline, training & employment services for young people, parent education and family refuges.
In the last 12 months, she says more than 3,000 (five per cent) of all Kids Helpline counselling sessions were directly related to bullying. The statistic highlights the need for greater intervention and, with Australia ranked second highest for teen bullying among 24 OECD countries, it’s clearly an issue that will not be solved quickly.
“Unfortunately, one in seven young people aged 10 – 14 years of age, expressed thoughts of suicide when they made initial contact with Kids Helpline counsellors relating to bullying in 2024,” says Adams.
Searching for support
“Children and young people are telling us they can’t see a way out of bullying. They are searching for practical support; they are searching our Kids Helpline website in increasing numbers looking for self-help tools to deal with bullying – including cyberbullying.”
Adams says the information on the Kids Helpline website aims to educate young people and also reassure those experiencing bullying that there is a way through it.
“More than 178,000 individuals accessed bullying-related information on Kids Helpline’s website in 2024,” says Adams.
“yourtown’s Kids Helpline @ School program is available nationally in primary and secondary schools, thanks to our principal partner Bupa Foundation. It provides early intervention and support to students and teachers within the school environment.”
Adams says teachers can access classroom resources and book free Kids Helpline @ School sessions to have the support of Kids Helpline counsellors deliver virtual workshops with classes to help children and young people develop resilience, manage relationships, “and become comfortable with reaching out for assistance”.
Tips for parents to help children boost resilience
- Focus on the behaviour as being the problem. Separate behaviour from identity – E.g. “Ashley is bullying you. That behaviour is not okay”. Rather than: “Ashley is such a bully!”
- Be curious.This helps young people realise that bullying isn’t their fault. E.g. “I wonder what’s going on for that person that they would act that way. Why do you think they are behaving like that towards others?”
- Have a sense of humour. This helps young people to feel more empowered and take back their personal power. E.g. “Oh, what a compliment to be called a dog! Our dog Lucy is literally my favourite person in the world; we could all afford to be a bit more like her!” Rather than: “How dare she call you a dog! She should look in the mirror”.
- Empower by exploring options and outcomes, rather than retribution. “What would you like to happen? What’s the best way to get the outcome we want?” Rather than: “Give him a taste of his own medicine”.
- Show compassion/be the bigger person. This can be incredibly empowering for a young person because most young people want to do the right thing and be well thought of by others. Remember: this is not about ignoring/not responding – this is about responding the right way. E.g. “It must be hard to feel like the only way you can build up your self-confidence is by bringing others down. It’s important we role model good behaviour, rather than resorting to insulting them back…”
Remember to reach out for help
Adams says Kids Helpline is committed to supporting the wellbeing and mental health of all young Australians.
“We encourage families to reach out for help and support whenever they need it.”
Contact Kids Helpline:
- Phone: 1800 55 1800
- Online chat and self-help: kidshelpline.com.au
- Kids Helpline @ School: schools.kidshelpline.com.au
