In the third of a series of features focusing on the concerns of young people, we look at the devastating effects bullying can have.

VICTIMS of bullying face a daily battle that leaves them feeling isolated and depressed.

It is an issue that has been facing schoolchildren for years and is a problem many pupils still deal with every day.

In a national survey carried out by charity Bullying UK, more than two thirds of children in the UK reported being bullied and 87 per cent of parents said they had a child who had been bullied within the previous 12 months.

The Bullying UK’s 2006 National Bullying Survey revealed 31 million school days were lost every year as a result of bullying and 85 per cent of schoolgoers had witnessed it, with 82 per cent trying to intervene.

The latest figures, from 2009 to 2010, from Worcestershire schools, show although no one has been permanently excluded from a school in Worcestershire for bullying, 42 children were excluded for a fixed period.

When Worcestershire Youth Cabinet spoke out about their main concerns the problem was high on their list, with most members knowing people who had suffered at the hands of a bully.

Worcester teenager Misa – we have changed her name to protect her identity – was targeted by bullies both at school and by her neighbours for about seven years. She told us her story: “I was first bullied when I was about five or six years old.

“It started off as simple name calling and excluding but it made me feel worthless and I would often spend my evenings crying.

“It was years until I even understood what bullying was.”

The 14-year-old was targeted by bullies both at school and by children in her neighbourhood.

“The bullying went in phases, when the bullying at school got worse my neighbour would back off and vice versa so I didn’t really feel like I had a safe place.

“I always loved playing outside because I live in a cul-de-sac,” said Misa. “And I just generally love the outdoors, but I would always be called names or excluded from games by the girl next door.

“There were a lot of kids living down our road and most of them followed her.

“I had two allies and we kept away from her by looking at wildlife and stuff. One summer we looked at some snails and while we went for lunch, we put them in a plastic type box designed specifically for insects.

“We took about two hours getting leaves and soil and stuff for it. When we came outside again we saw all our hard work was throw over the floor. The girl next door was responsible.”

Despite telling her parents and a teacher about the bullying it continued to happen almost daily.

“The bullying took place pretty much every day.

“It left me feeling isolated, depressed, lonely and hating myself.

“I tried to keep away but ignoring it only made things worse and fighting back helped a little but not a great deal.

“I told a teacher and my parents but my parents said they couldn’t help because they didn’t witness it happening. It felt like they weren’t quite sure how to deal with the situation.”

Even inside the safety of her home Misa was still targeted by bullies through social media websites.

“I did have some issues over Facebook, it involved a few rumours being spread around at school about me.

“Then I received messages over Facebook.

“I was constantly aware of who was spreading rumours and obviously who was contacting me about them, but I found they were much easier to solve than the problems at school and with my neighbour.”

Although Misa did not suffer what she called “serious violence” she did have balls thrown at her head and was pushed in the corridor.

“The only trouble was I felt that I was the problem.

“No one else around me was being bullied so I felt like there was something wrong with me and I deserved it, that I wasn’t normal because it wasn’t happening to anyone else “I definitely felt lonely and began to lose what few friends I had as it seemed that the more cut off I was, the less I would get hurt.

“I soon learned that I was wrong and found safety in numbers and as I matured I could judge characters better and stop myself from getting hurt.

“My life felt like a battle that I would have to fight on my own.

“The bullying only really stopped when I was about 13. My neighbour moved away and I’m not sure how it stopped in school, I like to think people matured but I don’t think that is the case.”

Although it has stopped, the years of bullying have had a lasting effect on Misa.

“My school performance has never been affected, apart from a small glitch this year, but I have very low self-esteem.

“I find it very hard to trust people, I’m super self conscious and I find it hard to get close to people.

“I don’t feel very comfortable around people and my confidence can be knocked very easily.

“I also doubt my achievements and don’t see any good in myself. I never feel good enough.”