The UK’s recent spate of terrorist attacks is leading to a spike in bullying among children, with those as young as nine being targeted due to their race or religion.
The NSPCC released the data today, stating that 2,500 counselling sessions directly related to this type of bullying had taken place in the last three years. The abuse has been prevalent across all kinds of backgrounds, including Muslim, Jewish, Christian, Black and Sikh, but the NSPCC pointed out instances of Muslim children calling its Childline help number with stories of being targeted for wearing religious garments and accusations of ties to Islamic State. The abuse has, in some cases, led to self-harm, says the NSPCC.
Read more: The truth about Blue Whale
"The boys in my class are always calling me a 'terrorist' but my teachers do nothing about it," one 15-year-old girl told Childline. "I've started to cut myself to numb the pain."
Earlier this year, the NSPCC released a wide-reaching report into child safety for 2017 and found that, in general, there has been a spike in emotional abuse that has led to children going into protection. The recent spate of religiously-motivated bullying has led to children feeling increasing isolated and withdrawn from society, the NSPCC states.
"No child should be targeted because of their race or faith and we can't allow prejudice to make children feel ashamed of who they are," said NSPCC chief executive Peter Wanless. "Instead, we should celebrate diversity and stand together. It takes huge courage for a child to speak up about this issue and they must be encouraged to speak up if they are being targeted."
The UK has seen a spike in hate crimes, at the same time. Following last year’s referendum, in July 2016 there were 41 per cent more reported instances of racially or religiously-motivated hate crimes in the UK compared with the previous years. The same has been true following the Manchester and London attacks, with 139 incidents perpetrated against Muslims in Manchester in just one week, compared with 25 incidents the previous week. We have seen the extreme of this, with the terror attack on the Finsbury Park mosque in June.
The impact on younger generations, however, came into stark focus following the Manchester attacks at an Ariana Grande concert, which saw children and teenagers among the dead. At the time, the NSPCC released advice to help parents speak to their children about the complex issues involved, imploring them to listen to concerns, provide reassurance, and avoid complicated explanations.
Following the troubling spate of self-harm incidents related to the game “Blue Whale”, WIRED put together the below explainer designed to help parents and carers recognise the signs of a child in need, and protect them from potentially harmful and upsetting material online.
Like adults, children will respond to mental health issues in different ways but there are common signs parents, friends and teachers can look out for, compiled by experts at NSPCC:
- becoming withdrawn from friends and family
- persistent low mood and unhappiness
- tearfulness and irritability
- worries that stop them from carrying out day to day tasks
- sudden outbursts of anger directed at themselves or others
- loss of interest in activities that they used to enjoy
- problems eating or sleeping
If you're concerned, speak to your family doctor. If a child has been self-harming the doctor will be able to treat injuries and give medical advice. They could also refer your child for specialist help, such as a therapist.
NSPCC also advises speaking to your child's teachers. Teachers are becoming increasingly aware of child self-harm and mental illness and the school should be able to provide a named member of staff who your child can go to. This might be a counsellor, a mentor or a nurse, for example.
When it comes to bullying, the NSPCC specifically suggests parents look out for the below:
- "lost" or damaged belongings
- physical injuries such as unexplained bruises
- being afraid to go to school, having mysterious illnesses or skipping school altogether
- becoming nervous, withdrawn or losing confidence
- problems with eating or sleeping
- bullying others
Safeguarding those in most need of help is a multi-faceted issue – one that requires open-mindedness and understanding, rather than cruelty. Reducing the stigma surrounding mental health is a necessary part of helping those suffering, but can often be one of the hardest steps towards recovery. The stigma associated with a disease or illness can often leave those affected feeling scared of judgement or rejection by others. But this is not the case.
In the UK, 1 in 4 people reportedly suffer from mental illness. Mental health issues don't discriminate and can affect those of any of age, gender, race or background. One of the most damaging symptoms of mental illness is that it can often leave people feeling trapped or alone – but there is help available. Talking about suicide prevention and mental health is the first step towards seeking treatment, and, with support, improving your wellbeing. This is a chemical issue - a medical issue - and deserves respect and appropriate care.
If you or someone you know needs support, there is a range of confidential online services and helplines:
Information, advice and support for young people affected by mental health. It copes with issues such as looking after yourself, the feelings and symptoms of mental illness and more information about conditions and how personal support can be provided.
Whatever you're going through, call the Samaritans for free at any time, from any phone on 116 123. You can also email jo@samaritans.org or visit a local Samaritans branch.
A specialist charity dedicated to preventing youth suicides in the UK provides confidential help and advice to young people, as well as training to those who want to help safeguard others against self-harm.
The NSPCC website is a source of support for parents, while Childline is a dedicated side for children to seek help. If you think a child is in immediate danger, either call the police on 999 or call NSPCC on 0808 800 5000.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
