Students in Tasmania reported the highest levels of bullying with the lowest in Victoria, NSW and the ACT. But as part of its investigation into teen mental health the ABC found there are ways schools and parents can future proof their kids from the threat of bullies.
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00:00 In a classroom in Western Sydney, students are taking on bullies using martial arts of
00:06 a different kind.
00:07 One, two, three, what do you mean by that?
00:10 Again, what do you mean by that?
00:12 It's called social kung fu and gives students phrases to counter schoolyard and online attacks.
00:18 It goes from that spectrum of defence to becoming really assertive and building positive relationships.
00:26 It was developed by Matt Purcell who found his childhood kung fu lessons couldn't block
00:30 verbal taunts.
00:31 Among us boys, name calling, teasing is a really casual thing.
00:37 Sometimes it gets out of hand.
00:38 If we can teach young people how to use their words powerfully and to speak up for themselves,
00:43 then literally our world will be completely changed.
00:46 Bullying is a type of adverse childhood experience and experts are concerned it could be contributing
00:52 to a spike in teen mental health issues.
00:55 These mental health issues that appear in adolescence, they don't just happen overnight.
01:01 Usually there's been precursors through the earlier childhood years.
01:05 Figures show one in four Australian teens was cyber bullied in the past year.
01:10 Victims are more likely to have anxiety and depression and have double the risk of suicide
01:15 in later life.
01:17 Ongoing stresses that are persistent and significant for a young person are going to affect how
01:21 the pathways in the brain develop.
01:23 Dr Deidre Gartland is studying resilience and says having connections to community,
01:28 culture, family and interests outside of school help children weather these storms.
01:34 When children do have access to these resources, they are much more likely to have positive
01:38 mental health and wellbeing.
01:41 Matt says getting help for teens begins with a conversation.
01:45 [BLANK_AUDIO]