The Unfortunate Statistics About Bullying

For children aged 10-15 years, in the year ending March 2023:

  • For children aged 8-17 years, about 39 % have experienced bullying either on or offline. anti-bullyingalliance.org.uk

  • For workplaces (UK survey): about 23 % of employees reported being bullied at work. SME Loans

Legal / policy framework

  • For schools: In state schools, by law they must have a behaviour policy that includes bullying prevention. GOV.UK

  • For harassment more broadly: The Protection from Harassment Act 1997 covers harassment, stalking and similar repeated behaviours causing alarm or distress. .

According the the anti-bullying alliance

1 in 4 young people with SEN (special educational needs) experienced violence (actual or threatened)

According to the UK’s Office for National Statistics (ONS), suicide is now the leading cause of death for those under 35. The situation is especially alarming among children and adolescents: rates are rapidly increasing among 10–19-year-olds, with girls facing some of the highest risks.

A 2021 report by The Children’s Society found that 1 in 6 children in the UK now struggles with a probable mental health condition. These are not just numbers—these are children in our schools, in our homes, and in our communities.

Furthermore, a 2020 study conducted by YoungMinds, a leading mental health charity, revealed that 66% of children who experienced bullying said it severely impacted their mental health. For too many, that impact has led to lasting trauma, suicidal ideation, and in tragic cases like Willow’s, death.

Yet despite these clear indicators, none of this is currently linked to suicide tracking or safeguarding action in a systematic way. The data is fragmented. The deaths are rising. And too often, the system remains in denial.

Willow’s Law calls for accountability, transparency, and proactive support—because children deserve more than awareness. They deserve action.