31 per cent of 14-17 year olds have reported that they have been cyber bullied, as have 21 per cent of 10-13 year olds.

With these alarming statistics, initiatives need to be developed by schools and the wider community to support students and aim to not only devise methods of treating the problem when it happens but to prevent online bullying from occurring in the first place.  An initiative is helping to assist educators reach out to students and build a dialogue on the issue of online abuse.  It involves S-press newspaper, the nation’s largest free publication for teenagers who joined forces with headspace, the National Youth Mental Health Foundation, to launch The S-press and headspace Cyber Bullying Initiative.

They aim to provide critical information, advice and assistance to young Australians who may experience cyber bullying. By having such a large reader base this initiative is able to get the information to the audience that need it and in a format that they will want to read it and therefore understand it. S-press and headspace believe this initiative will be another valuable mechanism to ensure that young people receive the message that help and support is available.

What is headspace? Headspace provides mental and health wellbeing support, information and services to young people and their families across Australia. See www.headspace.org.au for more details.

What is s-press? S-press is Australia’s largest full colour newspaper produced each month for teenagers. It covers every aspect of teen life from news, sport, education and careers, to social events, entertainment and fashion. For more details, check out www.tempomedia.com.au.