13yr old Anna is different. People at school call her a freak, a he-she and a dyke. The bullying started in Year 7, whilst she was trying to cope with her Mam being seriously ill, and even when she’s not at school there is no escape from the threats and name calling through texts and social media. All she wants is for people to leave her alone and to be herself.

Bullying – Isolation and Intimidation |

Anna doesn’t really fit in at school. The bullies exclude and intimidate her making her feel threatened and alone.

Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behaviour that is repeated or has the potential to be repeated. Bullying includes actions such as threats, teasing, spreading rumours, attacking someone physically or verbally, and excluding someone from a group on purpose.

Young Carers │

Anna’s mam has cancer and is in a hospice where she is being cared for, so Anna’s sister Grace, looks after her. It is hard for them to manage all of the household chores and they don’t want social services to find out they are struggling to cope.

A large number of children and young people live with a parent who has a chronic, distressing or possibly life-threatening illness. These parents may spend time in a hospital, hospice or suffer from short- or long-term periods of being unwell at home.

Bullying – Cyber Bullying │

Both boys and girls from school send hurtful texts and post abuse about Anna on social media sites. They threaten her with sexual and physical violence.

Cyberbullying is bullying that takes places using mobile phones, computers and tablets. Social media sites, text messages, chat and websites are used to say hurtful things, to threaten and intimidate the victim.

Jack Hutch: Who's this girl?

TXT: Needs puttin in her place

Lucy Henning: She's a he/she

Sexuality and Homophobic Bullying │

People from school bully Anna saying she dresses like a boy and spread rumours about her sexuality, but Anna has never actually opened up about the homophobic bullying. Her friend Chloe asks her if she is gay.

Gender and sexuality can be very complicated issues for young people. People identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans or intersex (LGBTI) often face discrimination, bullying or violence and experience much higher incidents of mental health issues as a result. This is why it is so important that young people discuss gender and sexuality, are supported to be themselves, and know where and when to seek further help.

Bottling Things Up │

The teachers at school know that things at home are difficult but they think Anna’s aunty is helping her and her sister Grace. Anna finds it hard to talk about her ill Mother and her unstable home life.

It is normal that children of seriously ill parents may be reluctant to tell school staff and others of their parent’s illness. This may be for a number of reasons, including the fear of being treated differently, not wanting to make others feel uncomfortable, or the fear of the associated stigma (particularly for children of parents with a mental illness).

Bullying – Verbal and Physical │

Girls gang up on Anna in the school toilets, trapping her and threatening her with physical violence.

The law states that schools must have a behaviour policy in place that includes measures to prevent all forms of bullying among pupils. The policy is decided by the school. All teachers, pupils and parents must be told what it is. It is illegal to repeatedly harrass or intimidate someone. For example name calling, verbal threats and abusive phone calls, emails or text messages.

Anna opens up to her sister about the bullying and her sexuality. Grace is supportive and plans to go to school to discuss what has been going on.