STAND UP!

Bullying is any form of unacceptable treatment, or discrimination or behavior intended to hurt or harm the reputation of another. It is sometimes described as ‘abuse of power’ but it is in fact a desire in the bully to control or harm another person. The reasons for this desire can be complex.

There are many reasons why kids bully other kids. A bully may be struggling with personal problems at home. The bullying behavior may be the only way they know how to deal with a difficult situation in their personal life, such as parents divorcing, a death of a relative, abuse or humiliation of some sort in their life. This does not mean that bullying behavior is OK. Sometimes, a bully will pick on someone because they are jealous or because they think that they will be seen as bigger and tougher’ and it boosts their sad ego. For the bully, behaving in a bullying manner is seen as a way to win friends, but this is a myth. All forms of bullying and anti-social behavior is unacceptable.

Bullying hurts — but peer support really helps.

STAND^UP!