Teased by classmates? Terrified of going to school? Targeted by professional colleagues? Taunted via the internet? Tormented at home?
If you are experiencing these types of situations on an ongoing basis, then you are most likely a victim of bullying – a long-standing and deep-rooted behavioural problem which affects millions of people worldwide and hundreds of thousands of school children and their families in Ireland.
Bullying can take many forms and a bully can have many different faces. Not only does it make the lives of its victims intolerable and put them at risk of developing mental health problems such as low self-esteem, stress-related illness, depression, anxiety and possibly suicide but research suggests that bullying during childhood makes the aggressors more susceptible to criminal behaviour and domestic violence in adulthood. As much as it is debilitating for the bullied person, it can be equally distressing for parents and teachers who suspect a child has fallen prey to this destructive social practice.
This site investigates bullying in various venues, principally bullying in schools, workplace bullying, and the increasing phenomenon of cyberbullying.
Many children know of at least one bully in school and at least one peer who is being bullied. In fact, the bullying statistics are extremely scary. But how do you recognise it? This section deals with bullying facts and details the effects of bullying on its young victims, among other issues. From the school’s perspective, it also provides links to effective anti-bullying policy recommendations.
When it comes to cyberbullying, we look at identifying a cyberbully as well as tips on promoting cyberbullying prevention and cyberbullying policy.
In the area of workplace bullying, we consider topics such as bullying and harassment among colleagues and analyse bullying statistics in the professional environment.
 Bully 4u is intended as a resource for everyone who is affected by bullying either through technology, at school, at work or in the home – it is to help the victims, the perpetrators and the bystanders, as well as parents, schools, families and friends take the necessary steps to understand, communicate and empower in order to successfully stop bullying in Ireland. It is also a vehicle to raise awareness through initiatives such as a national Anti-Bullying Week which is in the pipeline.
We hope you find the site useful and we welcome any feedback.