ABSTRACT
Bullying has serious consequences on the mental health of young people, and these are often long-term. Almost every educational setting will have bullying. There are plenty of statistics available regarding the amount of bullying that takes place, it’s too high. The key issue is the impact of bullying on mental health. The National Child Development Study found that “individuals who were bullied in childhood were more likely to have poorer physical and psychological health and cognitive functioning at age 50. Individuals who were frequently bullied in childhood were at an increased risk of depression, anxiety disorders, and suicidal thoughts”. The vast majority of schools now have a bullying policy and like all policies, it should be reviewed regularly to ensure it is working. Some settings use restorative justice for bullying. Evidence has shown that restorative justice can have a very positive impact on behaviour, attendance, etc., when used correctly.
