What is the Bullying Epidemic Like in Britain?

We try to cover bullying from all sides of the world, and these bullying facts in Britain surprised even us. It just shows how widespread the problem is.

We try to address bullying in every form imaginable, and these Bullying Facts in Britain are surprising even to us.  Bullying isn’t just a national crisis, it has become a global epidemic.  Not only are our children constantly being faced with bullies tearing away at their confidence and self-esteem, we are seeing more and more adults fighting bullies in the workplace and in social groups.

Related: Bullying Facts In Canada: How Do They Affect Your Kids?

Bullying Facts In Britain

  • 30% of young people bully someone else at least once a week.  This number is an astounding concept.  To think that nearly 1/3 of your child’s class at school is a bully is appalling and frightening.
  • As a result of bullying 14% of children have developed an eating disorder of some kind.  Attacks on physical traits are the most commonly occurring types of bullying.  Eating disorders are very often a result of a child being told they are not physically good enough.  14% of children go home each day and do not eat healthy because they have been bullied about how they looked.  That is 14% too many.
  • Only 55% of bullying is reported to an adult or authority figure.  Many children do not believe that reporting it will do any good.  Others are afraid of being harmed or bullied themselves for tattling on the bully to someone in authority.
  • Nearly 70% of school aged children in Britain have witnessed another child their age being bullied this week.  Nearly 3/4 of the children your child knows have been bullied today.  Can you name children you think are being bullied in your child’s school?  You have probably come into contact with at least a few of them today.
  • Physical appearance is still the number one reason behind bullying in children and teens.  From being too skinny to wearing the wrong brands of clothing, physical appearance is still the most common reason a child is bullied.  This is an epidemic that is growing worse, and is teaching our children that if they do not conform to what is considered the normal way to look, they are not good enough.
  • Those who are in lower income, LGBT community or have a physical or mental disability are the most likely to be bullied by others.  Preying on those who are weak or outnumbered is a common practice by bullies.

Related: Anti-Bullying Facts to Help Your Mission to Stop Bullying

Bullying facts in Britain is nearly identical to what we have seen in the United States and Canada.  With upwards of half of our children being bullied in their schools on a regular basis, it is time to take a stand no matter where we live and fight to change these bullying facts in Britain, the United States and Canada.

Do any of these bullying facts in Britain surprise you? Tell us your thoughts in the comments.

23 thoughts on “What is the Bullying Epidemic Like in Britain?”

  1. From listening to some of the things that kids ‘bully’ or tease their peers about are crazy. Kids in my nephew’s class are incredibly materialistic, and have this thing where they tell others that their clothes are fakes.

  2. It makes me so sad that bullying is as big of an issue as it is!!! Kids & even a lot of adults can be so mean. I really wish there was a way to rid it!

  3. Bullying is such a hard thing to deal with… We had that when my daughter was in middle school. It’s a very complex/trying thing.

  4. my daughter is still a toddler so fortunately, we haven’t been exposed to bullying. it breaks my heart to hear and read about kids getting picked on, and sometimes it unfortunately results in a tragic ending. i hope my daughter trusts me enough to tell me if it ever happens to her. thanks for building awareness around this issue!

  5. Wow this is horrible. It is sad that kids do this to each other. I really think it starts at home. If parents know about it and ignore their child’s behavior, then shame on them too. Often times it goes unnoticed though because the child who is bullied is scared to speak up. I have told my kids that if they are nulled to please let me know so that I can help them. As a parent, I want my child to know that I am on their team.

  6. I am so sad to hear this – when I was 5 my step-dad heard kids calling me fatty – didn’t bother me (I was just not skinny) – but he taught me to defend my self verbally and physically – I did the same with my son – sent him to karate and gave him confidence – I wonder if this would help others also? Plus I stood up for others when I saw them bullied and the bully always backed down.

  7. This is so sad. My son was riding the bus at the start of the new school year and about 4 months in he started missing the bus every day. He finally told me that the kids started picking on him as soon as he got on. I called the school, but they did nothing. I decided he was better off just riding with me but this is really getting out of control.

  8. I think there is bullying anywhere in the world. It is a hard reality that we are facing. I just pray that my kids and all the kids in the world don’t have to experience it.

  9. Can’t say I’m surprised either. It seems to be part of the human condition that we pick on people who are not like us. But it doesn’t happen till we are older. You don’t see this much in 2 year olds. I wonder what starts it.

  10. Bullying certainly does take place absolutely everywhere in the world. It’s silly to think it’s just happening in your own country. Something needs to be done about it.

  11. At the end of the day we are all the same. We are all dealing with the same issues. I remember dealing with bullies growing up, they force be to get a tougher skin. It wasn’t easy sometimes but it was nothing like the bullying we see today.

    I don’t know when and where things went wrong. With such an epidemic how do you fix it, slow it down and stop it?

  12. It really doesn’t surprise me that Britain also has this issue because they are similar in “consumerism” to America. As long as we (the media/magazine covers/television ads) focus so much on what you have/how you look/etc. there will be bullying. It is so sad that our children have to go through this :(

  13. Robin (Masshole Mommy)

    Oh how interesting. I never really thought it went on other places to be honest. I always just assumed it was an American issue.

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