Bullying, harassment & discrimination

• Physical bullying: hitting, kicking, pushing, or damaging someone’s belongings.

• Verbal bullying: name-calling, teasing, insults, or threats.

• Social (relational) bullying: spreading rumours, excluding someone on purpose, or embarrassing them in front of others.

• Cyberbullying: using phones, messaging apps, or social media to harass, threaten, or humiliate someone.

• Repeatedly calling someone hurtful names or making fun of their appearance.
• Spreading rumours about someone to damage their friendships.
• Purposely leaving someone out of group activities again and again.
• Pushing, tripping, or hitting someone.
• Threatening someone to make them hand over money or belongings.
• Sending cruel or threatening messages online.
• Sharing embarrassing photos or videos of someone without their permission.

People bully for different reasons, and it is often more about their own issues than the person they target. Some common reasons include:

• Wanting power or control: they may enjoy feeling dominant over someone else.
• Insecurity or low self-esteem: putting others down can make them feel better about themselves.
• Peer pressure: they may bully to fit in or impress friends.
• Copying behaviour: they might have experienced bullying themselves or seen it at home or online.
• Difficulty managing emotions: they may struggle with anger, jealousy, or frustration.
• Lack of empathy: they may not fully understand or care about the harm they are causing.