I've been bullied for over a year. I can't cope.

I am nearing the end of secondary (high) school. Last October, 2 boys in my year started calling me a name. It’s very hurtful, it’s about the way I look. I get extremely upset and despressed about the way I look. I put make up on and try to do my hair nicely, but it still makes me very despressed. The bullies have called me this name for a whole year now. They seem to do it a lot, then ease off a bit, then start up again. They have found the name so funny that it has spread and more people are calling me it. I have gone to our school “Peer Mentors” who help with issues in school. I have talked to them about it and they moved one of the boys to a different class. It has improved slightly, but more people are calling me it and it’s getting out of control. It gets me so upset.

My friends say they only want a reaction from me, and that if I ignore them they will stop, but that’s all I’ve done for 12 months. I have never spoken back or even looked at them while they are shouting behind me. I just sit there and get on with my work, but it doesn’t stop it tearing away inside. I want to be a confident person, especially in my exam years, but I feel this is stopping me.

Some people have said I should answer them back but that will only encourage them. I am helpless, I have no idea what to do. Even though I have told the Peer Mentors and a few teachers, not much has seemed to have been done. I really don’t know what to do anymore, please help.