The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC) launches an anti-bullying awareness campaign highlighting the effect that bullying can have on young peoples’ lives; their self-esteem, their mental health and their sense of belonging.

The campaign is the vision of Westlife’s Mark Feehily and a number of well known ISPCC ambassadors (Jedward, Saoirse Ronan, Louis Walsh, Laura Whitmore) along with Mark agreed to support the campaign by being photographed as victims of bullying.

Last year the Childline service received around 2,300 calls and messages everyday from young people with almost a quarter of these contacts relating to abuse and welfare, including bullying as well as issues around mental health. Bullying can impact greatly on a young person’s development leading to isolation, loneliness, depression and low self-esteem.

In recent years there have been some high profile and tragic cases, highlighting the detrimental and sometimes fatal effect of ongoing bullying and harassment. ark Feehily said today “I know at first hand how the impact of being bullied as a teenager can quite literally last a lifetime and I thought that if we could involve well known ISPCC ambassadors perhaps people will think twice about bullying or indeed allowing bullying to happen”

Ashley Balbirnie, CEO, ISPCC said “We are very grateful to Mark Feehily and our ambassadors for their support in raising awareness of this important issue. At the ISPCC we strive to fight for children’s rights and bullying is something that is happening in many young peoples’ everyday lives. From listening to children everyday, we know this to be true. Through our Childline service we hear first hand the stories of abuse and isolation that so many are experiencing. Through this campaign we hope that many of these can find the courage to tell someone.”

Mark said "Everyone involved believes strongly that the message that emanates from each shot is a simple one. Bullying and abuse whether verbal, physical or emotional is unacceptable in today's society".