 Celebrities star in a new anti-bullying video |
Sports stars Kelly Holmes and Rio Ferdinand are among two of the celebrities who've signed up to a new campaign, to try to tackle bullying in schools. They're among the celebrities who feature in a new glossy advert, featuring a poem written by a victim of bullying.
Around one in four primary school children and one in three secondary school children are bullied at some point in their school life, according to official estimates.
This morning, Breakfast found out more about the campaign - and what you can do to tackle bullying.
We talked to Radio One DJ Emma B
She told us how upset she'd been when she discovered that a 16 year old who'd called her Sunday Surgery programme about bullying had later committed suicide. We talked to Gill Frances, of the Anti-bullying alliance "There are lots of things we know we can do in schools. For instance, raising awareness and getting children to talk about bullying - and using peer support," she told us.
Schools have found it helpful to train pupils to mediate among themselves and offer counselling to children who are being bullied.
"The reason for the increase in bullying statistics may be because more children are telling people - in the past, some felt that they couldn't say anything," she told us.
The new anti-bullying video, which will be shown on national TV over the next week, features lines from a poem written by a victim of bullying at school. It was published on the anti-bullying site, bullying.co.uk
Children will be encouraged to wear a blue wristband - like the one in the photo - as a sign of solidarity.
Later this week, the government will publish new guidelines on tackling bullying, particularly homophobic victimisation.
The Education Secretary Charles Clarke has already published new guidance on school behaviour, which says that schools should adopt a "zero tolerance" policy on bullying.
Getting help
If you're being bullied at school, the first thing to remember is that you're not alone.
The helpline Childline took more than 30,000 calls on bullying last year - a quarter of its total.
It stresses that bullying is not a normal state of affairs - and you shouldn't have to put up with it.
That's why the latest campaign encourages everyone to wear a blue wristband: as a sign of solidarity.
On the right hand side of this page, you will find links to organisations which can help. Or, you can ring Childline: 0800 111.
Have you witnessed or experienced bullying at school? Tell us how you handled it - and what worked for you.
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watch our interview in full with Emma B 
I can still feel scared just by walking past some school gates 20 years after I was bullied. Anyone who thinks bullying doesn't affect you long term is seriously mistaken. 
