Important to stop this bullying early

BULLYING at school, including homophobic, bi-phobic and transphobic bullying, can be hugely harmful to young people’s wellbeing and mental health.

Young people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) statistically experience poor emotional and mental wellbeing, with lesbian, gay and bisexual young people twice as likely to make at least one suicide attempt in their lives compared to heterosexual young people.

Nearly half of trans young people had made at least one suicide attempt in their lives.

At Barnardo’s we have been working in schools and we know how important it is that we tackle bullying behaviour early.

That’s why we’re calling on the Government to make sure all children learn about LGBT relationships as part of the Relationship and Sex

Education curriculum.

The current guidance refers to different types of relationship, but our research has shown there needs to be explicit reference to LGBT relationships in secondary school lessons and same sex relationships in primary school lessons.

It is important that young people, through Relationship and Sex Education, can understand their rights and responsibilities and the role they can play in promoting equality and respect for all. STEVE OVERSBY, Director of Barnardo’s East Region