LIKE MOST FORMS of cancer, violence and abuse are preventable. But why is preventing them so hard? They leave pervasive stains on communities at local, national and global levels. In a family context, they have enduring intergenerational consequences that lead to significant harms with substantial economic, social and health costs. In employment contexts, they foster abuse, bullying and harassment that do major damage to companies and employees, generating social, health and financial fallout.

Consider the schooling context. Examining the sheer scale of bullying, whether in physical, psychological or cyber forms, illuminates the scale of victimisation and the real consequences for students, which include future violence, mental health problems and enhanced suicide risk.