Ms Suzanne Connolly:

I thank the committee for the opportunity to speak with it today. Barnardos provides a range of services to children and families in our 40 community-based centres, in family homes and in schools. In 2020 these services were delivered to nearly 18,000 vulnerable children and parents. Our key message today is that early intervention and prevention is vital to reducing the impact of bullying on mental health. To meet this objective, Barnardos delivers the following programmes in schools and communities. The roots of empathy programme is an evidence-based programme focused on social and emotional learning. A parent and a baby visit the classroom every three weeks over a nine-month period. Children learn about child development and, indeed, their own development through observing a baby growing and the relationship the baby develops with its parents. They learn to understand the range of emotions that a baby experiences and, in this way, can connect that to their own emotional world. Through observing the relationship between the parent and child, children can see a real-life example of a nurturing relationship. This programme been proven to reduce levels of aggression of children in primary school and, therefore, of bullying.

Friendship group is an evidence-based group work programme that helps children develop skills to form healthy relationships with their peer groups. It teaches children how to negotiate, express and explore different views and feelings, how to win and lose gracefully and how to work as a team. The programme reduces bullying because it helps children to relate to each other with respect and understanding.

Our online safety programme is run across primary and secondary schools and aims to promote safe online use and to build capacity for critical thinking, as well as healthy behaviours when interacting online. Through the friendship group and online safety programme, children learn that they do not have to like everyone, and they do not have to be friends with everyone, but they have to treat everyone with respect. Bullying, without the appropriate supports, can have devastating short and long-term effects. When a child is bullied to the extent that their mental health is impacted, it does not solely affect the child concerned, but also the family and the broader community. The impact of bullying on mental health is not restricted to bullying within school grounds. Therefore, a holistic approach to tackling the issue must be taken outside of the school context, with consideration given to family and community supports. Key to reducing the long-term impact of bullying is early intervention and prevention. Evidence-based programmes, such as the roots of empathy, increases a child’s empathy and awareness of others, while friendship groups can support a child’s well-being and build the confidence required to negotiate peer relationships. Targeted and resourced family support within communities also helps children to grow and learn in a home environment that enables them to manage and negotiate school conflicts.

Finally, the introduction of a comprehensive digital literacy and online safety programme must be progressed to ensure children build the capacity to think critically about their behaviours online. We cannot underestimate the importance of a holistic approach across schools, communities and homes when putting in place early intervention and prevention measures to mitigate the devastating impact bullying can have on children and young people’s mental health. I thank the committee.