It is estimated that 40-60% of children experience teasing and bullying about their stammer. Students may be experiencing the bullying online or in- person. These experiences can have a significant impact on a child’s mental health and wellbeing in the short -term and in the future.
It’s important that the child or young person doesn’t feel alone, and that they know that support is available. You could encourage them to reach out to you, a parent or caregiver, their speech and language therapist or another trusted adult and tell them what is happening.
In this article, we signpost avenues of support that might be available in your school or local community, as well as national organisations who can provide expert support and guidance.
Support at school
You can ask your school’s SENCo or other staff members who specialise in providing wellbeing support about any confidence-building, mental health or anti-bullying initiatives that are in place. For some schools this may include the Emotional Literacy Support (ELSA) programme, or a buddy scheme. The SENCo may also be able to offer guidance in seeking the external support of an Educational Psychologist or Creative Therapies professional.
If the young person you work with is experiencing ongoing feelings of sadness or anxiety they/their family can speak with their GP, Speech and Language Therapist or the school’s SENCo and ask them to make a referral to a mental health professional.
Helplines
The charities below information and specific guidance for childhood and adolescent bullying, which is directed towards schools, parents/carers and young people themselves.
- Bullying: Get help and advice, YoungMinds
- Bullying and cyberbullying, Childline
- Act Against Bullying
- Tools & Information, Anti-Bullying Alliance
- Campaign against living miserably
- Online bullying, Childnet
Increase stammering awareness and acceptance at your school
We know that many of the negative and unhelpful reactions to stammering that young people endure are rooted in ignorance and outdated perceptions of stammering. By raising awareness about stammering and talking openly about difference, we can cultivate a more tolerant and accepting society.
For this reason, we encourage educators to foster a deeper understanding of stammering across their school community and working with pupils who stammer to reduce negative attitudes and bullying. Some young people might decide they’d like for a talk or presentation about stammering to take place at their school, perhaps during a lesson or during a whole school assembly. We can offer your school support with this, too, so do get in touch!
Remind pupils about your school’s behaviour policy - teasing and bullying someone about the way they speak is not tolerated.
Power of community
Many young people who stammer have said they’ve felt empowered by meeting others who share their experiences, and that it has boosted their confidence and reduced their feelings of isolation. You can find out about the opportunities offered by ASC to meet other young people who stammer by accessing the links below.
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