Tomorrow (Monday) marks the beginning of Anti-Bullying Week. We’ve all experienced such behaviour; sometimes we were the ones bullied and sometimes, dare we admit, maybe we were the ones who were the bully. To treat anyone with anything less than dignity and respect is to be inhumane. And yet, even in a so called enlightened society it is still rife in the workplace.
A new study out next week will reveal that a huge amount of people have been a victim of bullying in the workplace. I can’t yet report the figures as there’s an embargo on the statistics, but suffice to say it will come as no surprise that much goes unreported and that leads to depression, loneliness, relationship breakdowns and even suicidal thoughts for some.
The TUC say that stress and ill-health can become part of the daily life of those being bullied. Symptoms can include: Anxiety, headaches, nausea, ulcers, sleeplessness, skin rashes, irritable bowel syndrome, high blood pressure, tearfulness, loss of self-confidence, various illnesses of the organs and thoughts of suicide.
Elsewhere people can experience a bully at school, in a family or social situation. Family Lives offer support and advice for such events and they can b contacted on their confidential helpline – 0808 800 2222. It’s open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
In a month when we remember those who laid down their lives so that we can live now, surely we owe it to them that we fight against injustice, inequality and discrimination in any form – corporate or individual – when we experience it? Only then can everyone have the true freedom and peace that those brave people hoped we would have.
Some are planning to wear blue on Friday to show their solidarity with those who are treated so appallingly. Whatever we do in the coming week let’s hope that we reach out to anyone who is afraid, worried or feels that they are anything but the magnificent creation they are. Because of the actions of another. Slowly but surely we can change things if we have the courage of our convictions.
This Mellow Moment sums it up. Until we meet again…..x
Background photograph designed by Jcomp – Freepik.com
Great MMM. Lovely words too. Thank you Mike.