How to tell if your child is being bullied - and what to do

A new support group for parents of bullied children has been set up in response to the growing number of requests for help. The victimised child needs to know it's safe to talk about what's happening and that the grown-ups can handle the situation without making it worse  

Pic: iStock

National mental health charity Turn2Me launched a support group last month for parents of bullied children. This was because increasing numbers of parents have been contacting the charity, looking for help to support a child who is experiencing bullying.

One in four primary and 12% of post-primary schoolchildren have been bullied offline, according to research from the DCU-based Anti-Bullying Centre ( exa.mn/bullyingguideparents). When it comes to online bullying, the figures stand at 14% for primary and over 12% for post-primary.