They need to start introducing mental health education in primary schools. The earlier children learn about it and understand it’s okay to feel bad, hopefully the less confusion and anxiety there will be in their teenage years.

Recording of incidents and a comprehensive anti bullying policy have been in place for years in my school.

I would love to know how exactly they plan on implementing this strategy. School guidance counsellors hours are now taken from the same general pool as academic hours – a decision that was made by this government. This is such a valuable resource to so many young people in schools yet the government just launch a big strategy while making it all the more difficult for schools to deal with bullying is just supremely typical and playing to the media rather than the young people its supposed to be protecting.

If this saves the life of even one child then well done I say. The whole issue of mental well being should be built into the school curriculum from an early age. Too many young people have taken their own lives for this not to be seriously addressed. Hope this works..and quickly.

Constructive thinking or defeatist thinking, which is more likely to make this country a better place. Doing nothing but complain ensures that what you complain about will never change.

I feel so sorry for kids at school today .remembered being bullied myself at school but difference was when i went home i didnt get emails txts of the ones that were doing it. People can be as horrible as they want behind a screen . They cant see the consequences of their actions. I dunno just wish young Pepole would see school is more than likely not the best years of their lives and either is your teens in general . It gets better . There’s always going to be nasty people out there but
Like that because there lacking something in their lives

I’m surprised (and not surprised) that any school would not keep a record of bullying they are aware of. The onus is still firmly on parents to bring up their children to have respect for others. Children will copy what they see at home, from the earliest years. Schools have a duty to act responsibly while children are in their care BUT require support from the bully’s parents to deal with the issue comprehensively. It would also be a mistake to conveniently assume bullying is confined to the schoolyard: it is now feature of many workplaces. It does not stop at adulthood, nor are adults immune from it effects. It’s described then as “domestic abuse”, and “workplace bullying”. The initiative should at least serve to educate those being bullied that it is not their fault, and that they can speak out without fear. Bullies thrive on silence. Valuable life lessons.

The government should really think about working with BelongTo on bullying in schools.

Nothing new in this initative. A publicity stunt. As per book rental initiative, child protection and anti bullying schools parents children and teachers can find out about the details on the Department of Educations Maze of a web site.Clicked on Departments Children First booklet (child protection guidelines) and got directed to Department of Health.

They could try to stop bullying the normal taxpayer while they’re at it.

Who proposed this anty bullying? Phil hogan, james reilly,

Bullying is endemic to Irish society, We behave like cattle with the biggest and strongest and usually male, getting to the trough first. Lets start by giving up bullying children and then they might not bully each other.

Great article from the Journal. I agree that we need to have a plan taking all things in the consideration like mental illness, physical disabilities, and kids who are different, and he bullied kid deserves protection. I feel documentation is the way to go specially living in this legal world where everyone sues for every little thing. I know this website called Hib Hub community, they actually have a software that would solve the burden of the government by documenting bullying incidents.
Keep fighting for the bullied. http://blog.mmarefuge.com

Its about time its always the same in this country back peddling to fix it after the crine has been conmitted

Bullying is endemic to Irish society. The word comes from cattle behavior and Irish society is pretty similar to a herd of cattle. The biggest and strongest get to the trough. Any change has to start in the home, with parents respecting their children, and not bullying them, followed by teachers stopping bullying the children.

If the new anti bullying agenda brings in no money it will be neglected

Lets hope they read, understand & follow what ot sets out.

In my opinion writing laws that that the Irish Citizens do not want and cancelling meetings owing to those citizens mounting protests is bullying.

Then again what can we expect from a bunch of failed teachers who think they are still dealing with and can order around children.

Teaching another profession that has and is still practising bullying

Kids will be kids unfortunatly. If you tell them not to do something, they are more likely to do it and no amount of legislation is gonna change that. Need to teach these kids to stand up for themselves. The world is a cruel place, and it starts in childhood.

The wolfs promoting veggie burgers nah sorry can’t take these liars this is the Francis Who brought in the ha ha ha lets sell a few children out referendum by cheating ahhh ruairi ya big bully bull dog