Waterloo Road: Are you worried about bullies?

As a student it can sometimes be hard navigating school life, there can be lots of difficult situations and worries to overcome. We spoke to some of the cast of Waterloo Road ahead of the new series which starts on BBC One and iPlayer from Tuesday 23 September, and asked them to share their tips.

How to overcome worries in school

Tillie Amartey who place Grace in Waterloo Road says: "When I'm worried I don't try and get rid of the worry. I acknowledge why I'm worried, and I sometimes speak the worry out loud so I can actually hear what I'm worrying about. But sometimes it's not as big of a deal as you think it is in your head. So when you get rid of that burden, it makes you feel a sense of relief."

In our World of Wellbeing podcast about worrying, Dr Radha told us that you should talk to someone you trust and tell them what exactly you are worrying about. She said: "Get specific and break the problem down so you can see the wood for the trees, and in doing so, actually make progress forward."

Talking to family is something that helps cast members Niamh Blackshaw who plays Agnes and Liam Scholes who plays Noel. Niamh says: "The first thing I'm gonna do is call my mum if I can, or my friends." Liam reaches out to his nan when he's feeling worried, or he'll chat with mates, he says he will "either ask for advice or just have a chat and then I'll feel chilled out."

Breathing exercises can also help calm us down when we are feeling worried, or stressed. Dr T's double inhale, exhale breathing technique is a good one to try:

• Take a big breath in through your nose.
• Give yourself a quick top-up breath through your nose.
• Then a long exhale through your mouth.

How to talk to a friend about bullying

The cast of the show also shared their tips about how to support a friend who is being bullied. Zak Sutcliffe who plays Schuey in the show told us: "I think the best thing you can do is pay attention to them (your friend) and understand what's happening." Niamh said: "I would just I just ask them if they're okay. I think that first step, just being kind, goes a long way."

Teacher, Chloe Vethamony spoke to us about bullying in our School Essentials series. She said: "Bullying can take many forms – physical, online, emotional, spreading rumours – and should never be tolerated in any school. If you feel bullied, you see someone being bullied, or even if you've been less than kind to others, talk to a member of staff or trusted adult and get things sorted."

The new series of Waterloo Road airs weekly on BBC One from Tuesday 23 September, with a double bill at 9pm and the second episode at 10:40pm, or the entire series is available to watch on iPlayer. The new school year will see some new faces arriving through the school gates, including comedian Jon Richardson who plays Media teacher Darius Donovan.

If you need support

You should always tell someone about the things you’re worried about. You can tell a friend, parent, guardian, teacher, or another trusted adult. If you're struggling with your mental health, going to your GP can be a good place to start to find help. Your GP can let you know what support is available to you, suggest different types of treatment and offer regular check-ups to see how you’re doing.

If you’re in need of in-the-moment support you can contact Childline, where you can speak to a counsellor. Their lines are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

There are more links to helpful organisations on the BBC Bitesize Action Line page for young people.