Evidence has found that 1 in 4 people under the age of 25 are currently experiencing bullying in the UK, and a further 77% of this age group have been bullied at some point in their lives. The research was carried out by The Mix, the UK’s leading digital support service for under 25’s in collaboration with Shout, the UK’s crisis text service, both of which are powered by Mental Health Innovations
This year alone, 10,000 conversations looking for support about bullying have been held with 6,000 texters contacting Shout – an average of 35 conversations about bullying every day. Of these, 75% are with young people and 35% of these conversations are with texters aged 13 or under.
Young people experienced a range of bullying – almost three quarters of texters (72%) experienced verbal bullying, over one third (35%) faced social or relational bullying and one in five (18%) experienced physical bullying. Almost half (48%) of the bullying occurred in schools, with students expressing distress over being targeted by their peers. LGBTQIA+ young people are especially vulnerable, with bullying occurring at three times the rate compared to among those who identify as straight.
Bullying was a major contributor to poor mental health. Texters reported symptoms of post-traumatic stress, including panic attacks, flashbacks and insomnia. For some young people, bullying led to even more severe issues, such as self-harm, suicidal thoughts and long-term damage to their self-esteem.
A young person, who wished to remain anonymous, stated that they were: “Emotionally drained” and “didn't want to do anything but be alone and not eat or drink”. They “felt powerless, like I was just watching life go by and not living it”.
Insights from The Mix’s forthcoming helpline report shows a rise in bullying or cyberbullying issues between 2018 and 2023. Their findings reveal that 13-16 year olds are three times more likely to seek support for bullying compared to older age groups.
The results have been released to mark Anti-Bullying Week 2024 (11th-15th Nov) as part of ongoing research carried out between The Mix and Shout. Their research highlights the scale and lasting impact of bullying on young people, with both services reporting a high support need for bullying in recent years.
According to The Mix’s report, while 29% felt able to speak to a teacher or another professional about the bullying they experience, 27% did not seek any type of support. Both The Mix and Shout are calling for increased awareness and support for young people, both inside and outside of school, including better mental health resources and a stronger focus on empathy-based education.
A young student, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “I would’ve loved for somebody to support me when I was being bullied. A friendly face and smile that let me know ‘It’ll be ok. You’re appreciated by me.’ Unfortunately, that friendly face never came. Instead, the faces of bullies just kept multiplying, and I was left to fend for myself. Excluded. Isolated in the one place I thought was safe, school.”
Ariele Noble, Head of Psychology Research at Mental Health Innovations: “Bullying leaves deep and lasting effects on young people, shaping their self-image, trust in others and resilience as adults. Bullies themselves are products of similar pain and hurt. By establishing more safe and inclusive environments where these emotional wounds can be addressed and healed, we stop them from being passed on.”
Andrew Harrison, Chair of Trustees at The Mix: "Every day, both The Mix and Shout confront the devastating impacts and lasting consequences of bullying on young lives. The toll on young people is profound, affecting their mental health, self-esteem, and future. We urgently call on all organisations with a responsibility toward young people to make this a top priority. Together, let's foster open, honest conversations to combat bullying and create safe, supportive environments for every young person."
About the data:
- Insights from The Mix’s forthcoming helpline report will show key data analysis of their helpline (date range: 2018-01-01 to 2023-12-31). Due to launch soon, the report will include more insights about bullying, alongside broader trends relating to the issues experienced by young people.
- The data also features new insights from a survey by The Mix (date range 2021-11-09 to 2021-10-18). In total the survey had 477 responses, 308 responses from 13 to 25 year olds. The survey sought to better understand young people’s own experiences of bullying and cyberbullying.
- Shout data features quantitative analysis (date range: 2023-10-01 to 2024-09-30), focused on conversations where bullying was identified as a concern. Issues were identified through volunteer post-conversation surveys, which are completed after every conversation. Bullying as an issue, is only recorded when the texter engaged in a conversation. Estimates were made to include both engaged and disengaged conversations, where bullying was a likely topic.
The data also features a thematic analysis of 200 conversations* with texters aged under 18, where bullying was a presenting issue, identifying four main themes (date range: 2018-05-23 to 2021-10-27); and a thematic analysis of 100 conversations* where bullying was a presenting issue, identifying three main themes. (date range: 2019-09-05 to 2022-03-08).
*N.B. Caution should be observed with thematic analyses in making absolute comparisons due to sample sizes.
