New anti-bullying app provides lifeline for kids

A newly launched mobile phone app lets kids text teachers about bullying, and lets them stay anonymous.

One in four school children, will suffer bullying and harassment every day.

"People who are being bullied feel like they are being outnumbered in a battle and they feel powerless,” 10-year-old Sarah Forrester said.

Experts hope the new anti-bullying texting service, TipTxt, will act as a much needed lifeline for kids.

"Anytime a student feels they are being bullied or observes bullying behavior they can contact the school directly using our tip line," Steven Watt from TipTXT said.

“Telling someone you are being bullied is like telling someone your deepest darkest secret, it's very hard to tell someone,” Sarah said.

TipTxt takes away that fear, because it's confidential.

Students can anonymously text a helpline and get an immediate response from a school official.

The technology is already used by hundreds of schools across the US, where teachers say they have seen an increase in reports of bullying, which has helped them to intervene much faster.

Ballina High School is promoting TipTxt as part of their campaign to stamp out bullying after North Coast teenager Alex Wildman tragically took his own life.

"Talk about it, tell somebody, tell anybody – but this texting is a great idea too, the more we are talking about it the less it will happen,” Leader of the anti-bullying campaign in the North Coast Anderw Playford said.

For more information about the app and to download, visit www.blackboard.com.

If you or someone you know is having trouble coping, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.