KIDS Helpline is calling for urgent action to combat the rise in bullying among Australian teens, with their recent survey revealing 85 per cent of young people have experienced bullying.

In the last year, more than 3000 of Kids Helpline counselling sessions were directly related to this issue, highlighting the need for more intervention. Australia ranks second highest for teen bullying among 24 OECD countries.

To tackle the issue, Kids Helpline has teamed up with Instagram to launch How Do You Mean?, a campaign to empower young people to recognise, report, and seek support for bullying.

Kids Helpline’s Tony FitzGerald said education is key to helping teens understand, recognise and respond to bullying, providing practical strategies and encouraging open conversations to create more compassionate, safer spaces for everyone.

More than 178,000 individuals have accessed bullying-related information on Kids Helpline’s website this year.

Mr FitzGerald said the campaign is essential not just to educate young people but to reassure those experiencing bullying that there is a way through it.

“The mental health impact of bullying can be profound, impacting self-esteem and overall wellbeing, which is why it’s vital to remember that support is always available,” he said.

Kids Helpline’s practical steps for managing bullying include getting social support and spending time with friends, seeking professional help, and report bullying to a trusted adult or through online tools.

The only person who benefits from you not reporting is the person doing the bullying.

Kids Helpline is available 24/7 for any reason.

Young people can call 1800 551 800, chat online here or go to this website.