Smoothwall is a proud supporter of the Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA), and this Anti-Bullying Week focuses on the theme “Choose Respect”. Kindness and respect play a pivotal role in building student self-esteem, which in turn can improve peer relationships and reduce instances of bullying.
This article explores how DSLs can use gratitude practices as a strategy to establish an anti–bullying culture within their school.
The link between poor wellbeing and bullying
According to the ABA, almost 1 in 4 students report being bullied “a lot or always”. Bullying can have a devastating impact on the mental health of victims, but it also indicates poor wellbeing in the bullies themselves.
Surveys completed by 65,000 students across England as part of the ABA’s United Against Bullying programme revealed that “pupils who have been bullied and those who bully others (both face to face and online) are significantly more likely to report poor wellbeing.” In fact, “those who bully [are] the most likely to report poor wellbeing.”
As well as addressing individual instances of bullying, promoting values like kindness and respect can help schools to counter poor wellbeing and, as an extension, bullying behaviours.
The power of gratitude
Establishing a culture of kindness and respect can take many forms, but one of the most effective ways is to teach students about gratitude. Practising gratitude involves taking time to acknowledge something or someone that you are grateful for. It’s a fairly simple idea, but research shows that it can have a significant positive impact on mental wellbeing.
A 2023 meta-analysis of 25 controlled trials concluded that “expressing gratitude toward an individual has positive immediate effects and positive effects that last weeks.” Another meta-analysis of the same year examined results from 64 clinical trials and confirmed that practising gratitude can cause “more positive moods and emotions, greater appreciation and optimism, more prosocial behaviour, less worry, and less psychological pain.”
Introducing students to the practice of expressing gratitude may therefore have long term benefits, not only in terms of reducing negative behaviours, but also in encouraging positive feelings and interactions.
How to introduce gratitude practices at your school or college
An advantage for DSLs is that practising gratitude is a quick activity that students of all ages can participate in. Here are a few ways you can introduce it at your school:
- Gratitude at registration: Start each day off on a positive note by getting students to name something or someone they’re grateful for after they’ve confirmed their attendance during registration.
- Gratitude box: Some students may prefer to keep their gratitude anonymous - you can facilitate this by keeping a gratitude box in the classroom that students can contribute to when they feel like it. The contents of the box can then be read out every week or month.
- Introduce a wellbeing platform: As well as helping you track the wellbeing of students and identify those who need extra support, some platforms have gratitude sharing built in, making it easier for students to develop this positive habit.
The key with gratitude practice is to keep it as open and judgement-free as possible. Students may want to express gratitude for a friend who helped them through a hard time, or the fact that brownies were on the dinner menu that day - it all counts!
Use wellbeing platforms to cultivate an anti-bullying culture
Digital wellbeing platforms can also offer a channel for students to reflect on their mental, social and physical wellbeing. This enables schools to track the wellbeing levels of students and identify any concerning trends. Wellbeing platforms can be a powerful tool for DSLs, enabling them to support anti-bullying initiatives and promote a culture of respect.
Spot signs of bullying early
The data provided by wellbeing platforms can help DSLs spot changes in wellbeing levels, which may be an indication that someone is being bullied or bullying others.
Smoothwall Pulse, for example, uses 60-second weekly check-ins to prompt students to share how they are feeling via digital devices. The ease and privacy of this approach encourages students to participate honestly. They are also given the option to reach out to a chosen staff member to talk about an issue that’s bothering them.
This allows DSLs to gain key visibility of potentially vulnerable students who may otherwise suffer in silence.
Gratitude sharing at students’ fingertips
Pulse promotes kindness and respect by giving students the opportunity to practise gratitude at the end of every check-in. They can nominate fellow students or a staff member, or pick something they’ve appreciated that week. When they express gratitude for someone, that person will be notified through their profile on the platform.
Making gratitude a regular part of students’ routines empowers them to actively participate in building a respectful school environment.
To get involved in Anti-Bullying Week or discover more about the Anti-Bullying Alliance, visit the Choose Respect resources page.
To learn more about wellbeing platforms or book a no-obligation demo of Smoothwall Pulse, talk to our experts at enquiries@smoothwall.com.
We’re ready to help.
