Bullying


We all know that bullying can happen at every school and it can go on at work as well, if a manager or colleague forces us to do something against our will or excludes you in some way. But what is important is how bullying is dealt with. Most young people can just sit back and take it and try to get on with things. The result is you end up feeling miserable. So step up and take action if you are experiencing any of the following:

       ·People calling you names
       ·Making things up to get you into trouble
       ·Hitting, pinching, biting, pushing and shoving 
       ·Damaging your belongings
       ·Stealing from you 
       ·Spreading rumours
       ·Threats and intimidation

Do Something
Sometimes ignoring the insults and cruelty just isn’t enough. Bullying is an extremely difficult thing to deal with and can be too much to handle on your own. So the best thing to do is to tell someone you trust it could be your parents, a teacher, a guidance counsellor or anyone that you know you can trust. Write down details of what happens after instances of bullying and who is involved. If you are at school then your parents should take up the issue with either the class teacher or the head teacher. If it’s occurring at your work tell your team leader or line manager, who in turn should raise it with personnel or your union rep. If it’s a smaller workplace, speak to your boss.

It’s Not Your Fault
Remember that it is never your fault! Bullies usually act this way because they don’t feel great about themselves or maybe they were once bully victims, but that is no excuse for their behaviour.

Help Others
If you are aware of someone else being bullied then you should help them. There’s no use in keeping quite; that is just helping the bullies out. You should report it even if it is outside school hours as the school should deal with it if it involves its pupils.




Every little thing is born, lives its life and then dies.

Death is part of the natural cycle of life that all living things go through.

FIRST REACTIONS TO THE DEATH OF SOMEONE CLOSE


What happens to us when we lose someone? For most of us, bereavement will be the most psychologically distressing experience we will ever face. Grief is what we feel when somebody we love dies. The death of a significant person is a devastating loss. Everyone experiences grief differently and there is no 'normal' or 'right' way to grieve. How we react will be influenced by many different things, including our age and personality, or cultural background and religious beliefs, our previous experiences of bereavement, our circumstances and how we cope with loss.

Shock
'I can't believe it'; ' I feel nothing.' 'Why did it have to happen?'
It may take you a long time to grasp what has happened. The shock can make you numb, you may feel you're in a different world. Some people carry on as if nothing has happened. It is hard to believe that someone important is not coming back. Many feel disorientated and almost as if they have lost their place in life.


Pain
'I feel such pain.'
Physical and mental pain can feel completely overwhelming and very frightening. The pain of bereavement has been compared to that of losing a limb. It doesn't come back, you will always miss it, but you also learn to adapt to living without it.


Anger
Sometimes bereaved people can feel angry. This anger is a completely normal part of the grieving process. Death can seem cruel and unfair, especially when you feel someone has died before their time or when you had plans for the future together


Guilt
'If only...'
You may feel guilty about things you said or did, or that you didn't say or do. It is important to remember, at the time, that you did not have the power of hindsight you possess now.


Depression
'I feel so depressed, life has no meaning, I can't go on.'
Many people say there are times after a death when they feel there is nothing worth living for and they feel like ending it all.





ChildLine
You can call ChildLine on 0800 1111. Also, visit their website www.Childline.org.uk for fact sheets you can copy on topics like bullying, and exam stress.

Kidscape
Kidscape is another organisation which can advise you on any issue to do with bullying. They have a helpline for parents on 08451 205 204, and say that young people should call ChildLine. Their website has a good section for young people though. www.kidscape.org.uk/