Today is the start of anti-bullying week in the UK, something The DJ School supports whole-heartedly.
We see young people every day who are the victims of bullying in one way or another, whether its physical or verbal bullying or the not so readily seen types that come in the form of peer pressure, cyber bullying or simply being deliberately ignored and left out. This summer our project was all about 'Staying Safe' and included, amongst other things, looking at the effects of bullying and peer pressure.
Sometimes young people are bullied because they're obviously different to their peers - they may be of a different race, have said they are gay or just have a different accent to everyone else. Others are not even sure why they are bullied. Victims of bullying often fall pray to things like depression and eating disorders because the situation they deal with every day makes them so miserable. They can even turn into bullies themselves, taking their frustrations out on younger friends or family members.
Bullying UK has several stories from young people talking about their own experiences. All of them carry the same message; that being bullied makes your life miserable and makes you wonder what you did to deserve it, and that telling someone, anyone, who can help you is the way to break free of it.
There was a time when the only answer you got when you told someone you had been bullied was 'Fight back'. Not helpful if you're too scared to fight back, or those bullying you hang out in groups or are older than you. These days you can get help in so many places, you can even go on courses to help you learn to deal with the bullies better through being more assertive. Schools take bullying very seriously and act on complaints far quicker than they used to. There are charities such as Childline who offer advice free over the phone, and now by email and online chat. You can even talk to them anonymously.
DJ School CEO Gary Oliver has this advise to offer the bullies themselves. "Bullying is a really bad situation to get yourself into and if find yourself acting the bully you need to find someone who can help you stop. There's always a better way to deal with whatever you're going through, it's one of the principles the DJ School was founded on. You just shouldn't do it. It's that simple."
Bullying is wrong and often, the bully needs help just as much as you do. So remember, always speak up, no matter how hard it is. Tell an adult you trust and if you don't feel you have anyone, contact Childline.
Be Safe.
