Mental Health Month: When you're a victim of cyberbullying

Statistics about cyberbullying are nothing short of shocking: over half of adolescents and teens have been bullied online. More than 1 in 3 have been threatened online and 1 in 10 adolescents or teens has had embarrassing or damaging pictures taken of themselves without their permission.

Only 1 in 10 teens tells their parents.

[source: bullyingstatistics.org]

The discrepancy between the enormous number of victims and the handful that actually tell someone about it sadly isn’t very surprising. All too often, victims of bullying struggle with feelings of guilt and shame, making the step to tell someone that much more difficult.

We’re here to urge you to speak to someone when you’re a victim of cyberbullying. That person may not be your parent or someone close to you and that’s okay. What’s important is that you tell someone – even if that is someone you don’t know in person.

While the rise of the internet and social media has facilitated new types of bullying, it has also provided a new way to deal with it, in the form of online help.

With a simple google search, countless sites can be found where you can read about things to do when you’re a cyberbullying victim (the most important ones: tell someone, and keep a back-up of the bullying).

In the UK, there is ChildLine, an organization specifically aimed at people up to the age of 19. You can call ChildLine for free at 0800 11 11, or even talk to a counsellor online if you’re not comfortable with making phone calls.

When you’re in the US, Canada, or Mexico, you can call Child-Help USA on 1-800-422-4453. If you’re not comfortable with speaking to an adult, you can also contact TeenLine. You can call, text or email them when you want to talk to another teen.

Child Helpline International is an overarching organization, working in no less than 142 countries. To find out which number to call from your country, check out this helpful link. Some of them can only be contacted by phone, but most offer some sort of online help as well.

If you’re a victim of online bullying, don’t ever let feelings of shame and guilt stop you from seeking help. Telling your story might be tough, but it’s a step you must take in order to properly deal with the bullying.

If you have an addition to the sources provided here or if you just want to talk to us, you can always find us on Twitter at @CelebMixCares.

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