School Bullying Crisis: Distress Rates Higher Than Ever for Children as Young as 10

Warning: This story contains discussion of suicide.

School bullying in Australia has reached alarming levels, with increasing rates of children as young as 10 facing emotional distress due to online and in-person abuse. Kids Helpline has reported a rise in calls from children aged 10 to 14 experiencing bullying and having suicidal thoughts. While these thoughts rarely lead to actions, they are a significant indicator of mental health.

Kids Helpline chief executive Tracy Adams highlighted a significant growth in distress levels among younger children over the past five years. Bullying now occurs both online and offline, with children facing physical assault, verbal abuse, isolation, and online harassment.

According to the latest data from the Australian Child Maltreatment study, more than one in four adults reported being bullied at school, with rates not improving for each new generation.

The eSafety Commissioner's office reported a 456% surge in school-age cyberbullying complaints in the past five years, with nearly half of the reports involving children under 13. The office also noted an increase in deepfakes involving pornographic content of classmates or teachers.

Charlie Ford, who was bullied from a young age, faced threats of violence, social exclusion, and online gossip. Despite the impact on her mental health, Charlie received support and transitioned to distance education.

The federal government initiated an Anti-Bullying Rapid Review to establish national standards for addressing bullying in schools. However, responses from schools have been criticized for being slow and ineffective.

Kids Helpline received over 3,500 contacts related to bullying in 2024, with a high proportion involving thoughts of suicide. This indicates a pressing need for improved anti-bullying policies in Australia.

The Australian Child Maltreatment study revealed persistent bullying trends over the past five decades, emphasizing the long-term mental health effects of childhood bullying.

Bullying was found to be primarily based on factors like height, weight, race, disability, sexuality, and gender identity. Reports suggest that bullying occurs both in-person and online, ranging from physical assault to anonymous online comments.

New technologies have exacerbated the issue, with cyberbullying involving hurtful messages, sharing embarrassing content, spreading gossip, exclusion, and catfishing.

Despite the challenges, Kids Helpline remains optimistic about the increase in young people seeking help. The focus is on promoting strategies for coping with bullying and providing support to those in need.

Charlie and Serena Ford are advocating for better education on interactions and increased support for parents to address bullying issues, aiming to create a positive change for young people.

According to the source: Australian Broadcasting Corporation.