Young people

Why am I being bullied?

There is no particular type of person that gets bullied, it can happen to all types of people. A bully needs somebody to pick on and it may be that you were unlucky enough to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

People who get bullied can be shy, intelligent, sensitive or gentle. A bully will sometimes pick on a person because they are nice and friendly – the bully can be sure that this person won't fight back.

Remember that it is the bully who is the problem, and telling someone about what is happening will help.



There are ways that you can toughen yourself up and be more assertive.

Learn to say NO! – you always have the right to say no. Hold your head high and keep eye contact with the person you are talking to – your body language will show that you are serious.

Stand up for Yourself – it can be difficult to answer someone who is picking on you. Practising some calm responses can help.

Do not become aggressive yourself. Being assertive means that you stand your ground, but you do not hurt or upset anyone else.

If you have trouble being assertive or it doesn't work, then you should tell somebody about the bullying.