'Trapped, helpless, and terrified': Workplace bullying takes a toll

07/27/22 • 25 min

As a public healthcare worker, Lucy never imagined she could be a victim of workplace bullying. Paula faced years of abuse, harassment and even death threats working in the mining industry. In this episode of the podcast ‘Harmful’, hear two women’s shocking experiences of workplace bullying and how it lead to long lasting psychological harm. Recognising bullying behaviours early is important in minimising health risks. But it isn't always easy to get help. Without organisational support individuals are often left feeling trapped in toxic situations.

Previous Episode

Introducing Harmful: A podcast about the impact of bullying

Harmful is a new SBS podcast that shares real-life testimonies showing the deep impact that bullying has in our society. The series seeks answers to questions that some people carry for many years; ‘Why did I do that to them?’ ‘Why did you do that to me?’

Next Episode

'I was raised to be a people pleaser': the connection between trauma, upbringing, and bullying

For some people, their ability to deal with bullying is impacted by past trauma. Sarah is a lecturer in mental health and a domestic violence survivor. It has been a dark year for her. Years of trauma and social pressure led to a break down. She was unable to go back to work and unable to defend herself against the bullying she was facing. In this episode of 'Harmful', we explore how past experiences, upbringing, and cultural context influence what we deem acceptable in the ways others treat us.