I’ve been called a bully – what can I do?
It can be upsetting to be told you’ve been bullying someone.
If you are not sure if you have bullied someone, think about how you’ve been treating others. Even if you don't think it's bullying, someone may have been hurt or upset by something you did or said.
Bullying – no matter how or why it happens – can have harmful long-term effects on the person who’s bullied, bystanders and the person who’s doing the bullying.
No one gets things right all the time and doing something wrong, or making some bad choices, doesn’t make you a bad person. We can all change how we behave.
Bullying someone can sometimes be a sign that you’re dealing with difficult emotions or challenges in your life. People who bully may have difficulty with empathy or handling conflict. There are strategies you can learn to help you manage stress and emotions, and to build skills in empathy, problem-solving and conflict resolution.
Addressing the reasons behind why you’ve bullied someone can help you to change your behaviour, build stronger friendships and improve your mental health.
Talk to a trusted adult, like a teacher, school counsellor, parent or carer, or other support person. Let them know what’s happened and that you need some help. They can help you work out what might be going on and help you find support to change your behaviour and make things right.
Get help
You don’t have to deal with bullying alone. There is support available to you.
