When Your Child Is Being Bullied — Safety & Support for Parents & Carers

Signs your child might be being bullied

• Sudden changes in mood — anxiety, sadness, irritability, withdrawal.
• Reluctance to go to school or social events, complaints about feeling sick often.
• Unexplained injuries, lost or destroyed belongings, missing items regularly.
• Sudden drop in school performance or motivation, difficulty concentrating or refusing homework.
• Changes in sleep or eating habits, nightmares, or increased sensory sensitivity or shutdowns.

How bullying can affect mental health — especially for neurodivergent children/teens

Bullying can increase feelings of isolation, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, sensory overwhelm, shutdowns or meltdowns. Neurodivergent brains often take longer to recover emotionally and may mask pain — so support, understanding and safety are extra important.

How to support your child at home

• Listen calmly, believe their experience, and validate their feelings — avoid minimising or dismissing.
• Provide a safe, calm space at home — sensory-friendly, quiet, and comforting if needed.
• Help them rebuild confidence — talk about strengths, interests, and times they felt safe or happy.
• Encourage open communication — check-ins, gentle conversations, honest empathy, and reassurance.
• Keep a record — dates, what happened, how your child felt — useful if you need to talk with school or professionals.

Talking with school & advocating for help

Reach out to teachers, support staff or the school counsellor. Share what you know, explain your child’s needs, and ask for safety measures — seating changes, supportive adults, sensory breaks, or peer support.

• Request meetings in writing — stay calm, factual, and bring evidence (notes or records).
• Ask for a support plan that includes: safe spaces, predictable transitions, check-ins, and clear communication between home and school.
• Stay involved but balanced — too many demands can cause stress for you or your child.

When to consider extra support or professional help

• If bullying continues despite school intervention.
• If your child shows signs of depression, extreme anxiety, self-harm, or withdraws completely.
• If sensory overload, shutdowns or meltdowns escalate.
• If you as a parent feel overwhelmed — reach out for help, support groups, professionals or community resources.

Calm-corner & reflection prompts for you

• Write down how you feel and what support you need. Parenting through crises needs care too.
• Keep records of incidents and responses — having clarity helps reduce anxiety.
• Reach out to trusted people (partner, friends, support network) — you don’t have to carry this alone.
• Take small breaks to reset — breathing, sensory tools, quiet time, grounding.