CONSERVATIVE
New Forest East

HEALTH – CYBER-BULLYING AND MENTAL HEALTH - 16 April 2018

HEALTH – CYBER-BULLYING AND MENTAL HEALTH - 16 April 2018

Dr Julian Lewis: My hon. Friend [Alex Chalk] is doing us tremendous service by bringing this topic to the House. To what extent is anonymous bullying a factor? We all know from before the age of the internet the devastating effect of poison pen letters, even on a small scale; here one can have anonymised poison pen electronic letters that are accessible worldwide. Is it people who are known to victims mainly or is it people sheltering behind anonymity?

[Alex Chalk: That is an extremely good point. In truth, it is both, and not only is it the nature of the bullying but the volume. Social media provides the opportunity, whether through sham accounts, spoof accounts or whatever, to multiply the torment, so my right hon. Friend raises such an important issue.]