Bullying: Why people bully and how to stop it

There are a lot of reasons why some people bully. They may see it as a way of being popular, or making themselves look tough. Some bullies do it to get attention or things, or to make other people afraid of them. Others might be jealous of the person they are bullying. They may be being bullied themselves. Some bullies may not even understand how wrong their behaviour is and how it makes the person being bullied feel. Some young people are bullied for no particular reason, but sometimes it's because they are different in some way - perhaps it's the colour of their skin, the way they talk, their size or their name. Sometimes young people are bullied because they look like they won't stand up for themselves.

Why does it make them feel better:

They probably have bad confidence, and maybe they are being bullied themselves. So they might feel better, if they bully others, so they will feel bad. Or to prove something to others, that they’re smart and cool. Maybe they think that, they will be popular if they bullying.

In your opinion, what can be done to stop bullying:

You have a right to feel safe and secure. And if you're different in some way, be proud of it! Spend time with your friends - bullies hardly ever pick on people if they're with others in a group. If I was being bullied, I would probably try to ignoring the bully, telling them to stop and walk away whenever the bullying starts. I would tell an adult I can trust. Adults can do things to get the bullying stopped. Even if you think you've solved the problem on your own, tell an adult anyway, in case it happens again. An adult you can trust might be a teacher, school principal, parent, someone from your family or a friend's parent. If you find it difficult to talk about being bullied, you might find it easier to write down what's been happening to you and give it to an adult you trust. If you see someone else being bullied you should always try to stop it. If you do nothing, you're saying that bullying is okay with you. It's always best to treat others the way you would like to be treated. You should show the bully that you think what they're doing is stupid and mean.