Latest news with #bullying
CNA
2 hours ago
- General
- CNA
Talking Point 2025/2026 - School Bullying: How Can We Stop It
Bullying in Singapore schools has come under the spotlight in recent months. How big of a problem is it and what can we do to stop it? Diana Ser investigates, in this one-hour special.
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Lacie, 15, was excited about starting a new school. Three weeks later she was dead. This is her heartbroken dad's message to all parents
The grieving father of a 15-year-old girl who took her own life has spoken out, claiming the school she attended for three weeks before she passed away failed to protect her from bullying. Lacie May Murphy died on March 18 after a struggle with mental illness and bullying at her new school on the Gold Coast after moving from New South Wales in search of a fresh start. Her father, Todd Murphy, 39, said that the school dismissed Lacie's pleas for help and made her feel as though her concerns were 'not important'. Originally from Muswellbrook, Lacie had recently moved to the Gold Coast to live with her father. At first, things seemed to be going well - she even texted her dad to say she loved the school. But by the end of her first week, things changed. Lacie began questioning her dad about the way she was being treated by other students. 'Why are they bullying me - why are they saying this?' she asked him at the time. Lacie reported the bullying to the school, but Mr Murphy said she felt ignored. Mr Murphy said staff asked Lacie whether she wished to change schools but she decided to fight on. 'To Lacie's credit, she came back to me after a week and said, "Dad, I want to... battle through and and finish Year 10 at least. And that was her decision. 'And I said, "That's good, that's what I want." I said," I'll look after the bullying. I'll do what I can. I just ask you go to school and try your hardest".' Mr Murphy also hoped Lacie, who identified as Aboriginal, would connect with the school's First Nations liaison officer - but he said it took weeks for anyone to reach out. Tragically, the phone call finally came on March 18 - the same day he came home to find Lacie had died. 'The liason officer was three weeks too late,' her dad said. 'It is the worst possible fear that any parent could have - that you have to bury your child like that.' Lacie had a history of mental health struggles, including ADHD. Her father said the school made an effort to assist her including by giving her a card she could flash to leave the class when she felt 'overwhelmed or anxious'. But Mr Murphy believes the school should have done more to protect his his daughter in the three weeks she spent there before she died. Now, he's urging schools to take bullying more seriously and for parents to better understand warning signs in their children. 'We did know Lacie was struggling, but ultimately, Lacie didn't have the tools in her toolbox to be able to explain well enough to us what she needed, or all the feelings she had,' Mr Murphy told Daily Mail Australia. 'And, you know, [she] bottled them up, and put on a brave face and a smile and didn't want to confront her own demons that she had. 'This mental health stigma and this bullying... it needs to stop. We need to do something.' Lacie has been remembered as a kind and loving soul with a passion for rugby league. 'She was the epitome of selflessness - she cared about others far more than she cared about herself,' Mr Murphy said. 'In the football team it's the same... she would run the ball to get as far as she could for her teammates, she would always stand up for them and always stand up for her friends but she carried so much of that weight herself. 'You know, she cared too much, she loved too much, she didn't know how to let go... she thought she had to do it all and carry it all.' A spokesperson for the Queensland Department of Education admitted it had do more to ensure safe and inclusive environments were created for all students. 'Our thoughts and sincere sympathies are with the student's family, friends and loved ones during this devastating time. It is a tragedy when a young person's life is cut short,' the spokesperson said. The Queensland Government recently announced a $33million investment to help tackle bullying in schools. The new program includes the establishment of 'Rapid Support Squads' designed to fly into schools in need of extra support, funding for wellbeing staff and the expansion of a hotline to provide guidance to carers. 'The Anti-bullying Stakeholder Reference Group, consisting of experts in the field will inform the department's anti-bullying actions and measures and guide future initiatives to prevent and respond to bullying,' they said. 'Furthermore, all students have access to wellbeing professionals at school, and access to a team of experts providing specialist assistance in student protection, mental health and wellbeing.'
The Sun
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
EastEnders' Natalie Cassidy claims huge pop star used to BULLY her at school and reveals awkward confrontation
Former EastEnders star NATALIE CASSIDY has claimed that Paloma Faith used to BULLY her at school. Actress Natalie, 42, who played Sonia Fowler on the BBC1 soap, made the shock confession about popstar Paloma, 43, who grew up in the same area of East London as Natalie, on her podcast Life With Nat. 3 3 She revealed: 'Paloma Faith, she bullied me at school. She went to Islington Green and was in the year above me. We've spoken about it and she has said sorry about that. Gutted.' Indeed, the pair both used to attend the same secondary school, now called the City of London Academy Islington. However, the Make Your Own Kind of Music hitmaker had a VERY different experience to Natalie at school, describing it as 'one of the best periods of my life'. She said: 'I had a really amazing experience. People were always criticising it but the teachers were just so brilliant. "It was really creative, with really great art, music and dance departments. I really enjoyed it.' We have reached out to Paloma Faith's representative for a comment. Natalie - who quit as EastEnders' Sonia Fowler in January more than three decades after her first appearance - recently suffered a huge blow. It was confirmed earlier this month that the BBC wouldn't be re-commissioning her podcast with Joanna Page. A spokesperson told The Sun: "What started as a six month project turned into more than a year of joyous TV chatter, and over 80 heart-warming episodes. "Thank you to Nat and Jo for their warm recommendations and insider analysis, and to the whole team for keeping listeners in the loop with what to watch. But it's not all bad news as Natalie has landed her own show with the broadcaster, titled Learning To Care. It will follow the actress as she fulfils her longtime ambition of wanting to train as carer.
Independent Singapore
a day ago
- Health
- Independent Singapore
They told me to ignore it: Why our response to bullying is failing
SINGAPORE: When we think about bullying, the mind often jumps to name-calling, shoves in the hallway, or viral clips of schoolyard fights. However, in Singapore, the reality is more insidious—and far more damaging. Behind closed doors, on anonymous screens, and even in the silence of exclusion, thousands of students are grappling with a quiet epidemic, and it's leaving scars not just on the body but on the mind. According to a recent CNA Talking Point survey, nearly 30% of secondary school students in Singapore said they had been bullied, almost half of them within the last year. The official figures reported by the Ministry of Education (MOE) are much lower, averaging six reported cases per 1,000 students annually. This stark gap suggests a painful truth: many students are suffering in silence. The many faces of bullying Bullying today is not confined to physical aggression. Emotional and social bullying—like exclusion, rumour-spreading, or repeated verbal insults—is increasingly common. Even more chilling is the rise of cyberbullying, where the perpetrator may never show their face, but the damage is no less real. According to a Lancet Public Health paper released in May 2025, mental disorders are one of the leading causes of death among youths in Singapore. The rise of social media, academic pressure, and social isolation is driving young people to breaking points. Self-harm is the top cause of injury-related deaths among youth aged 20 to 24, and bullying, often the trigger for spirals of anxiety, depression, and low self-worth, is deeply entwined in this mental health crisis. One troubling finding is that many victims don't report bullying to teachers or school counsellors. A National Institute of Education report found that approximately 5% of bullied primary school students approached school staff first. The majority turned to friends or parents—if they told anyone at all. Why? Students fear retaliation, social exclusion, or being labelled as weak. Teachers, already stretched thin, may lack the time and support necessary to investigate thoroughly. The policy response—and its limits MOE states that anti-bullying efforts are embedded in the Character and Citizenship Education curriculum. Peer support networks, teacher training, and restorative practices are in place. Schools also partner with the police and mental health professionals. Yet, bullying persists, and the perception of certain critics is that interventions are often reactive, not proactive. What if the problem isn't just bullying, but the way we talk about it? In Singapore, official numbers suggest bullying is under control, but scratch the surface, and you'll find a different story. Many suffer in silence, not because the pain isn't real, but because they don't think anyone will do anything about it. So, the question is: What kind of culture have we created in our schools, in our homes, in our conversations? We're quick to introduce new policies, set up reporting channels, and hold assemblies, but what do these mean if the lived reality on the ground still makes children feel unsafe? Shouldn't we be asking: What would it take for a student to feel truly safe raising their hand and saying, 'This is happening to me'? What does support look like, not just for victims, but for the bullies themselves, many of whom carry pain of their own? Even at home, what messages are we sending? Asst Prof Cheung Hoi Shan from NIE points out that many parents still tell their children to 'just ignore it,' but what does that advice really do? Is it protection or dismissal? What if, instead of teaching kids to toughen up, we taught ourselves to listen better? What if we asked: 'What's been hard for you lately?' 'Who makes you feel small or left out?' 'What do you need from me right now?' Because maybe the solution isn't just stricter rules. Maybe it's not just more discipline or surveillance. Maybe it's a culture shift — one that begins with the courage to question how we've always done things, and the compassion to imagine doing them differently. Healing the Hidden Wounds The effects of bullying often linger long after the bruises fade. Without early intervention, they metastasise into adult trauma, toxic self-image, and lasting distrust, but it's not too late to act. To the teachers, parents, classmates, and policymakers, your awareness can be the difference between a child breaking down and a child breaking through. Because behind every statistic is a child, hoping someone will finally see what's been hurting them all along. If you or someone you know is struggling with bullying or mental distress, help is available: Institute of Mental Health's Helpline: 6389-2222 (24 hours) Samaritans of Singapore: 1-767 or 9151-1767 (CareText WhatsApp) Singapore Children's Society: for mental wellness resources
News.com.au
2 days ago
- Health
- News.com.au
Bulldogs star Rory Lobb opens up on overcoming bullying
As a boy, Rory Lobb would often pretend to be sick so he could stay home from school and avoid the bullies that tormented him. 'I had a lot of anxiety to go to school,' the AFL star recalls. 'Mum was always wondering what was wrong with me, but it was actually nothing. 'I'd literally sit at home all day and eat.' The Western Bulldogs swingman, who grew up in Perth, left school at 14 after verbal and physical harassment left him feeling'very depressed'. 'It was just really hard on me,' he said. Australia is in the grips of a mental health crisis, and people are struggling to know who to turn to, especially our younger generations. Can We Talk? is a News Corp awareness campaign, in partnership with Medibank, equipping Aussies with the skills needs to have the most important conversation of their life. Lobb worked as a painter, builder and machine operator, and was picked up by Greater Western Sydney in the 2013 draft. Later, he joined Fremantle before signing on with the Dogs ahead of the 2023 season. Now, he is encouraging people to speak up as part of News Corp's Can We Talk? campaign, in partnership with Medibank. Lobb urged others facing challenging times to share with loved ones, or a mental health professional. 'The more that you speak out about it and don't internalise … the better you'll be,' he said. 'In a way I'm subject to bullying these days on social media. 'Throughout my career I've found ways to combat that and speaking to people, having a really good relationship at home with my partner Lexi, and also having really good people around, I feel like has really helped me. 'Now, I don't really suffer from anxiety anymore.' He said his struggles as a youngster helped him build the resilience he carries now. The 32-year-old, who stands at more than 2m tall and has reinvented himself as a key defender in recent years,said he focused on being in the moment. 'I really enjoy going into work and hanging out with my teammates,' he said. 'The 'Doggies' (club) is just amazing for me … they're very supportive with everything I do.' Lobb has opened up to club psychologists and also has 'really good relationships' with his coaches. Known for his wild and ever-changing hairstyles, the cult figure said he brushed off negative comments on social media and focused on his inner circle. 'In the media I might be perceived as a little bit loud and out there, but I like my own time,' he said. 'I like to spend time with my family and friends.' Lobb is due to marry influencer fiancee Lexi Mary, who he said had been 'so amazing' for him, in October. Mary, who has more than 44,000 TikTok followers,also blocks out the noise from trolls online. 'I used to get a lot of negative comments, particularly when Rory was going through his trade saying that I was forcing him to move to a different club,' she said. 'That was a lot for me to take on. 'I feel like people just automatically think they know you and think they can comment on you and how you speak and your appearance. 'I just really try and focus on the people in my inner circle who do know me, and know within myself that I'm a kind person. 'I wouldn't let someone get to me who can hide behind a fake burner account.'
