The charity says that there has been a 42% rise in calls to its counsellors - the highest in its 18-year history.

Around half of young people who called claimed they had experienced name-calling and other forms of verbal abuse, while a third complained of being punched, kicked and pushed around.

A quarter of callers said they had already told a teacher about the problem but still felt the need for help.

What measures should be taken to tackle bullying?

This debate is now closed. Read a selection of your comments below.

The following comments reflect the balance of opinion we have received so far:

I am frustrated by the lack of power that schools have to deal with bullying John B, St Helens, UK

As a teacher I am frustrated by the lack of power that schools have to deal with bullying. The bullies know full well that assaulting a teacher is the only thing that will really get them expelled, they only get suspensions for bringing in knives and dealing drugs so slapping the other kids doesn't even appear on the expulsion checklist.
John B, St Helens, UK

I think you all are doing the right thing getting it out into the open now before something like Columbine happens. Encourage children to talk about what's going on in their schools. Step in where you feel it is necessary. Don't wait until it's too late.
Lynda Knowles, Littleton, Co, USA

It never ceases to offend and amaze me that what would be called torture and violent assault in the adult world is just written off as bullying when it involves children. It would be nice if the UK could make at least a half hearted attempt to deal with the issue before more children end up dead.
Freya, Leeds, England

I was bullied at school at the age of 9 (20 years ago). This continued for a few months until I learned to stand up for myself. Unfortunately the teachers at my school did not offer any support or advice when I informed them about the bullying. I believe I was told to 'stop telling tales'. On one occasion, I decided enough was enough and when picked on, I simply defended myself. I was never bullied again after that. Perhaps part of the solution should be to make the bully feel some of the degradation and helplessness that they inflict on their victims?
Anon, UK

It is part of children's culture everywhere Artem, NY/USA

Individual bullies can be stopped. I am not so sure about the phenomenon as a whole. It is part of children's culture everywhere, and the notions of honour, dignity, pride and violence are as entrenched in it as in the world of adults. I have experienced it myself and I have seen that bullies will stop if their target has sufficient will to resist. Unfortunately, not every child has that will and vulnerable children need all the help from their parents and teachers in every individual instance.
Artem, NY/USA

When I was at school (oh so many years ago!) I did the one thing that stopped a bully. I responded to the taunts with my own, ran with the bully in pursuit, up to the top of a flight of stairs, turned around with my foot stretched out and "hey presto" the bully was a big lump at the bottom of the stairs and never bothered me again. Naughty I know, but VERY effective.
Darren, Essex, UK

I was bullied at school. It ruined my life. I ended up leaving school when I was 15 without qualifications. I've struggled to get anywhere since then, gradually trying to pick up qualifications. The bullying made me so depressed that I attempted suicide. I'm lucky, it didn't work. If it had, then I wouldn't have my wonderful husband, a good job, and generally a good life. But it's because of bullying (that the school never did anything about) that I came so close to ending it all. It's about time something was done about it.
Stephanie, Gosport, UK

I personally went through years of bullying, but at 37 that is all in the past. Can bullying be stopped, in a word yes. But, we need to stop pussy-footing about with these little thugs and deal with them.
Iain, Edinburgh

It is up to all of us to have the moral courage to recognise that bullying is a form of assault Roz, Birmingham UK

Bullying does not miraculously stop when the bullies leave school. Adults get bullied too and it can be just as devastating. It is not a matter just to be dealt with at school or hived off to teachers. It is up to all of us to have the moral courage to recognise that bullying is a form of assault, verbal and physical, that we should not tolerate anywhere be it in school, in the City, the army or anywhere.
Roz, Birmingham UK

Bullying can never be stopped. Many teachers fail to believe that seemingly 'perfect' pupils are in fact bullies who torment & torture. I was bullied by a girl and her friends who eventually became head girl at my school. So apparently, bullies succeed too.
Anon, UK

I think Owen Duffy, Glasgow, Scotland is spot on. I was bullied for 2 years aged 7-9 and the school did nothing about it, despite the fact teachers had even seen me being beaten. I then went to some karate lessons and learnt how to block attacks and defend myself. It only took one confrontation with one of the bullies where I stood up for myself and then they stopped. I'm now a happy confident individual who doesn't care what other people think!
Alison, Leeds, UK

John, London: I too was bullied, and it similarly motivated me, and had a wonderful time when parking my sports car to meet my lovely friends, I walked past the bedraggled, struggling main offender with her three kids of varying look in tow. Sweet, sweet justice. However, I also hope to have similar encounters with the teachers that didn't care less, and who made excuses for a girl who pushed me and spat on me, by saying I "must have been mistaken because she's such a nice girl." They did nothing, she did it another 3 times before I ended up beating her up. She stopped, I was nearly expelled over it. The school's bitter justice.
D, Henley-on-Thames, UK

Kids are cruel Bec, London

Kids are cruel... but there are ways around this. School is not the only place for children to meet up. I found that summer camps and the guiding movement enabled me to make friends outside school, boosting self-esteem and helping in school. I think that this is a way that any parent with an unhappy child could make an active difference.
Bec, London

I had to take my 8 year old son out of his primary school because even after several complaints and meetings with the school, they were unable to do anything about the matter. They did admit that they had a bullying problem within the school but seemed unsure as to what measures could be taken. This was a bunch of primary school kids! I don't think the teachers punish the kids enough. If they are bullying constantly, remove them from the school!
Sharon, St Andrews

Expelling the bullies is not the answer, as this would leave us with a lot of disgruntled and uneducated young people on our streets. Ignoring the bullies and counselling the victims is not the answer either, as this allows the bullies to continue unabated while leaving children who are in all aspects normal receiving emotional support. Perhaps we should take the bullies aside and provide them with counselling, as it is they who are displaying the unacceptable behaviour. Only by dealing with their psychological problems will the situation ever get better.
Norman, Savannah, GA, USA

My mother and stepfather contacted the school on every occasion yet nothing was done Anon, Oxford, UK

I don't believe it will ever stop. My 12-year old sister was bullied throughout the whole of the last school year, both physically and mentally. My mother and stepfather contacted the school on every occasion yet nothing was done. Even though my sister was covered in bruises, the school said there was no evidence this particular group of girls were responsible. Despite my sister's objections she is due to start a new school in September. She didn't want to leave as she saw this as a sign the bullies have won.
Anon, Oxford, UK

Our governments are too busy solving the world's problems/crisis and forget to address problems that are emerging at home. Misbehaviour, violence and bullying are on the increase at all levels in schools but nothing is done. It is just brushed aside due to lack of funds and commitment.
Ex-school teacher, London

How about a joint-detention scheme for both the child and parents? Maybe a couple of weeks in solitary confinement for a family would make a bully think twice about his or her actions in the future.
Matthew, Ely

The biggest change in the last 25 years is that parents no longer automatically back up the teachers. Is it any wonder that teachers don't want to confront bullies themselves? Till parents and teachers start supporting each other again- each is just going to blame the other and the bullies will continue to get away with it.
Jim, Edinburgh

Why should bullying have to be another 'part of growing up'? Everyone deserves a chance at a good education and bullies make this harder for their victims. You just have to read the papers these days to see how many young children commit suicide to understand that this is a serious problem that needs to be addressed.
Julie, UK

I was bullied at school, and would like to thank the people that bullied me! Because of them, I became a more determined and motivated person. I now earn a six figure salary, and have a fantastic life... the last time I saw one of the bullies, he was stacking shelves in a supermarket!
John, London

This needs to be tackled from the earliest years. Some children with a sense of inadequacy bully to make themselves feel good. They should be told that it is a loser's pastime, and that it is immensely destructive to their lives too. Those who express themselves in this way should be taken aside for group guidance, and, if possible another outlet for their energy.
Bryan Hawkins, East Molesey. Surrey

It is an issue not just for schools or parents but for the whole of society Karen, Sheffield

I was bullied at school in the late 60's. 25 years after leaving school I was approached in a supermarket car park by the woman who had been the ring leader and had encouraged others to bully. She spoke to me as if I was a long lost friend, a best friend in fact. I came as close as I ever have to using physical violence, all the years of low self esteem just boiled over. I do not know what the answer is; I just know it can destroy the whole of someone's life, not just their school years. It is an issue not just for schools or parents but for the whole of society.
Karen, Sheffield

I was bullied at school by a teacher who took delight in tormenting any child who was "different". This was done to many other children in the school and the other teachers and head did nothing about it. How many teachers today use bullying of the weaker children to boost their standing amongst difficult pupils? Why are schools so reluctant to help those in a position of being weak and vulnerable?
Sue, UK

All too many government officials, council departments and social workers care about is trying to "include" the bullies, at the expense of the victim, the teachers and the rest of the school. Enough. No more tolerance, no more pandering, no more "trying to understand" the bully. Get rid of them.
Bob W., Cheltenham, UK

No one has to put up with this sort of thing. Like all victims of abuse, bullied children feel ashamed about what's happened to them. It's often easier to talk to a stranger than someone who they feel will be disappointed in them.
Mike , Chorleywood, Herts

It is sad that bullying is on the increase but as we live in ever more violent world not surprising. Children follow the example of adults, especially public figures and if they see those people using violence to solve their problems they will follow suit, especially against people who they see less strong than themselves. To stop bullying in schools lets stop bullying in the adult world
Adrian Cannon, Edinburgh, Scotland

Bullying seemed to be a normal part of growing up and we suffered in silence Andy, Kent

I suffered regular bullying at school in the late 70's, because I was little, swotty and posh in a run down area of Manchester. The only advice I ever got was 'hit them back'. Not helpful when faced with four lads, all twice as big as you who want your dinner money. In those days, bullying seemed to be a normal part of growing up and we suffered in silence. I recently bumped into one of my main tormentors in my parents' local. I'm now a happily married businessman with 2 lovely kids. He's twice divorced with a drink problem and his son's a junkie. What goes around comes around.
Andy, Kent

As a 12 year old I was physically bullied at school until I left aged 16. In adulthood, this has manifested as extreme competitiveness in order to be "accepted" by others along with aggression towards and mistrust of my fellow human beings. This has served me extremely well in business but sadly my personal life have always been a disaster. My schooldays were in the 1960's when teachers had little clue about the educational processes let alone the impact of bullying. Let us hope that today's teachers may be better informed and given the authority necessary and sufficient to stamp out bullying for good.
Stephen, Wakefield, UK

Kids are being encouraged to become victims A. Howlett, Manchester, England

My wife is a teacher, and she tells me that most of the cases of 'bullying' are no more than a single, one-off fight or name-calling bout. Kids are being encouraged to become victims, just like the rest of society under this government.
A. Howlett, Manchester, England

My son was at a so-called excellent academic institution in Guildford but his whole school life was ruined by three kids who physically attacked and verbally abused him because he had made the fatal mistake of being clever and diligent at his schoolwork. When he came home from school once covered in blood and with two teeth knocked out I reported this incident to the head teacher and the police but for six weeks the matter was never investigated. There was nobody disciplined, no charges pressed and the bullying continued. I have had enough of a society which seems to condone and glamorise such thuggish behaviour so my family are emigrating to the US in September when my husband starts his new job. I am going to work extra hours to put my son into a private school where he will be able to achieve his potential without fear and in an environment that respects learning and hard work.
Claire, Guildford, Surrey

I was bullied for years at primary school and the headteacher (who was later removed due to incompetence and violence towards the teaching staff) was no help whatsoever. I think the solution to bullying is to teach children martial arts, which will help them to look for non-violent solutions as well as giving them the means to defend themselves should the need arise.
Owen Duffy, Glasgow, Scotland

As much as we would all like to be able to send our children to school and not worry about bullying, it is a part of our schools' culture. I was bullied as a school child and I can honestly say it has made me a much stronger independent person in adult life.
Leanne, Dundee, UK

The majority of bullying in schools goes unrecognised by teachers Tima, London, UK

Some schools do take measures to stop bullying. For example, the school I went to had a campaign called 'Connect' where students go to a group of students to talk about their problems under a strictly confidential arrangement. However, although this may work occasionally, sadly the majority of bullying in schools goes unrecognised by teachers.
Tima, London, UK

I suffered bullying for many years at school and even now 15 years after I finally left I, like others here, still suffer very low self esteem, lack of confidence etc. No Childline or similar services were available to me and on reporting various incidents to my head it got much worse. They just called in the people in question, who denied everything, and then went on to torment me all the more. My only way of coping with it all is to become a very hard and cold person.
Sarah, Chester, UK

I was bullied at primary school and it still affects me 50 years later. It affected my ability to react positively to being conscripted and then sent to serve in Vietnam. I was a primary teacher for 18 years and while I was aware of bullying and did something about it when I discovered it, I always thought that my actions to stop it were futile. My opinion is that there should be an intervention programme carried out in school for the bullies and the bullied and also for the onlookers who witness bullying and do nothing about it.
Chas, Canberra, Australia

I contemplated suicide, lost all sense of self-esteem and self-respect MC, UK

I'm a 40 year old woman and was bullied from the age of 11 to 16, and the effects are still with me. It was rarely physical, but took the form of verbal abuse, rumour-spreading, being ignored by most of the class, and so on. The reason? The school bully's elder sister wanted to go out with my elder brother and he said no. My parents did go to school and talk to the headmaster, but that just meant that this bully told everyone I was a 'grass' and most people ignored me for best part of 3 years. I contemplated suicide, lost all sense of self-esteem and self-respect and became a fat, lonely recluse. Luckily my wonderful parents helped me regain some confidence and eventually I went on to university and now have a good job.
MC, UK

Also as someone who was bullied, perhaps being given self defence training would have boosted my ability to stand up to them.
James Stevenson, Edinburgh

The problem is that teachers are powerless to stop bullying without absolute proof. Physical bullying is fine, but I went to a grammar school and the bullies were no less nasty, just cleverer in that they knew that if they stuck to verbal abuse, I had no proof of what they were doing and so all the school to do was send me to see the school counsellor. Teachers need to be allowed to make more informed judgements on what is going on.
Darryl LeCount, Paderborn, Germany

I have 2 children and my eldest has experienced bullying. I have been very open with both of them and told them not to be ashamed to tell mummy if they are being bullied. The incident now has become under control. The situation was addressed with the school teachers and the parents of the children involved. As long as children are listened to and action is taken I think it can be handled and resolved. I was bullied as a child and never spoke up and I feel I would not want my children to go through what I experienced.
Lori, Surrey

Personal insults were part of everyday language Mark, Glasgow, UK

When I was at school 30 years ago, bullying was endemic, but it was not regarded as such and not reported. Certainly teachers did not get involved. As a result, personal insults were part of everyday language and fighting took place all the time. I am not sure it was malicious; it was a test of hardness. However I have no doubt in several cases, kids were emotionally damaged by this and it is right today that we need to be vigilant, but not over-react.
Mark, Glasgow, UK

Both my son and daughter were bullied initially when they moved to new schools. In both cases the bullies have now become best friends to my (now grown up) children. The point is, we must differentiate between normal jockeying for status within peer groups and behaviour which is beyond 'normal' parameters. A zero tolerance policy would probably harm the former, and force the latter to operate outside the school. Good teachers should be able to tell the difference between the two types. Let's give the teachers the discretion and powers to deal with the really bad ones, and encourage our kids to stand up to the others.
Andrew, Glos, UK

I wasn't bullied on a regular basis at school. However, when I was picked on, my first port of call would be the teachers. Nine times out of ten I would be told to stop telling tales and sent back to class. Personally, I think the teachers turn too much of a blind eye.
Matt, Lincs, England

I find it appalling that increasingly children have to speak to a complete stranger for advice. Whilst not criticising Childline who are doing a great job, where are the parents?
Hameed, Leeds, England

Any assault in school should be dealt with under the criminal law and not left to the whim of head teachers and governors. Child victims are not offered the same protection as adult victims of assault.
Frank, Bristol

Bullying is a direct result of the breakdown in parental control caused by so many dysfunctional family situations. Children who are bullies will normally come from homes where they are kicked around and verbally abused by their parents or witness their parents bullying each other.
Raymond Rudaizky, London, UK

Why is it tolerated? You are not allowed to abuse people as an adult, so why is it 'part of growing up' when you are a child?
Deb, UK

Schools need an avenue of discipline which they currently do not have Rick, Bradford, UK

As someone who was relentlessly bullied at school, I can attest to the problem of needing help. During my time there was no Childline and, when teachers were informed of the situation and tried to intervene, the result was that the problem was exacerbated through retribution. In today's climate, with schools under immense pressure not to exclude children, the problems can only fester. Schools need an avenue of discipline which they currently do not have. If I could have suggested a remedy to my situation, it would have been to remove bullies and place them in a secure location where they could be taught the curriculum without exerting any influence in the classroom and disrupting lessons - let alone inflicting physical and psychological torment to other children.
Rick, Bradford, UK

I don't think bullying can be stopped. I think that it is a natural part of life that almost all children go through. I went through it. Bullies in the old days would be given a hiding. Now we can't do that, they need to learn in some other way what they're doing is wrong.
T, Aberdeen

It might help if we could re-introduce discipline and respect into our schools, both of which are looking pretty unlikely in the current political climate, but I doubt it can be stopped. So teach children to stand up for themselves and deal with it themselves instead.
Ian, Kent

What the statistics don't cover is the huge volume of incidents which are not reported. Children must be told to stand up and not to fear the bullies.
Kyle Allen, Gosport, England

I doubt it can be stopped, nor do I believe it's any worse than it's ever been. In fact, perhaps there's a case for suggesting that attempting to stop it in its entirety is ill-considered. Obviously there are cases where it goes too far, but being able to shrug off name-calling and rise above physical threats is a valuable trait for an adult to possess. Where best to learn it but through experience? I was never so sensitive that I couldn't deal with being bullied once in a while as a child and so I'm not a doormat as an adult.
Lisa, Cambridge, UK

In response to Lisa from Cambridge's comments - are you seriously suggesting that being bullied as a child helps to prevent you from becoming a 'doormat' as an adult? I was bullied mercilessly throughout my time at secondary school, with constant taunts and name-calling. This resulted in severe depression, anxiety and eventually bulimia. I find it depressing that people are prepared to write this off as being 'too sensitive'. Having to learn to cope with daily victimisation is never a 'valuable trait' for an adult to have. Incidentally, I am now a happily-married 24 year-old, who is a managing director of her own successful business, despite, rather than because of the terrible time I had whilst at school. There is always hope, but shame on those who believe that children should suffer in silence as bullying is 'part of everyday life'.
Katw, London, UK

My experiences have made it so much more difficult for me to reach my potential Phil, Nottingham, UK

Throughout my time at school, I suffered severe bullying, which has resulted in me suffering from depression and low self confidence, even 4 years after I left. I am getting over it, but my experiences have made it so much more difficult for me to reach my potential. Despite repeatedly reporting it to staff, nothing constructive was ever done, and the bullies got away with making my life hell. To combat this we need to move away from society's ridiculous attitudes of political correctness at any cost. In my experience, "rehabilitation" and giving them "another chance" does not work. They should be expelled or isolated from other pupils to prevent such things happening. I'm sure that reintroducing proper discipline in schools would also help. As it stands, the perpetrators seem to have more "rights" than their victims! Whatever happened to "responsibility"?
Phil, Nottingham, UK

A good start would be for the courts, government etc. to actually support the decisions of head teachers when an unruly pupil is expelled and not force them to be reaccepted. A second would be to recognise (and not just in schools) the rights of the victim over the other party.
Peter Collinson, London, UK

By reducing the size of schools so that individual children do not become a faceless anonymous non-person. That situation leads to some children becoming bullies in order to establish a place in the order, and in other children becoming victims who are not noticed. A school of 500 pupils allows each teacher to get to know each child - at least by name - whereas the current trend for 1500+ means that it is impossible to trace a pupil.
Stuart, France (ex-pat)

'Zero tolerance' - the bullies should understand that.
Gerry Noble, Salisbury, UK

Sadly, and speaking as a victim of bullying for over 10 years at school myself, I don't think it can be stopped. Unfortunately however much we dislike it the fact is that tormenting others is part of human nature. However what can be done is to provide far more backup, counselling and support to children who are bullied than there was in my school days (1970s). In that way perhaps some of the lasting psychological damage and low self-esteem that I have suffered through my entire lifetime as a result of being bullied can be avoided or at least ameliorated for today's generation of children.
Anon, London, UK