This week, Jennifer Gallagher, the mother of 15 year old Josh Gallagher, has bravely spoken of her plans to provide practical and meaningful help for any child being bullied or their parent or guardian who is worried about them being bullied.

We applaud this selfless quest for one mother whose bravery in trying to make a difference is inspirational.

Josh’s mother has known pain that no-one would ever want any parent to suffer -- the loss of her child.

The teenager died by his own hand after being bullied at school.

No-one would expect his mother to react to this most painful of losses in the way that she has.

In November this year, which is bullying awareness month across the UK, Jennifer hopes to see the publication of a new directory which will provide details for all the agencies who can offer help and support in relation to bullying.

She knows how vital this information is as she felt there was little support there when she needed it most.

It was only after Josh’s death that she learned of agencies that could have helped in her situation. But, as his mother notes, by that stage it was too late for Josh.

Her plan is that all the people who can help are listed in a directory that will be available in every school, GP’s surgery and local authority building.

As part of her project on bullying, Jennifer is hoping to organise an exhibition which will be open for all school ages to participate in.

The Enniskillen mother is taking these steps as Education Minister John O’Dowd takes stock after a consultation on dealing with bullying. That there is potential change -- more help for instance -- is a good thing. Bullying is a decades-old problem that has not gone away.

Our reporter Julie Kenwell this week gives voice to a number of victims who have spoken out about the horrific behaviour they have been subjected to at the hands of bullies. Some recall events that happened years ago but still bear the scars; others look back on recent incidents that have had lasting effects on their self-esteem and mental health. And it is not only in schools that bullying can occur -- it can happen in the workplace as one interviewee explains.

Many have chosen to remain anonymous, testament to the vicious and relentless assault bullying has on the victim’s sense of self. The young woman who speaks out today without remaining anonymous must be commended for her courage in having the confidence to speak out.

For all the protocols in place for dealing with bullying, there must be a sea-change in attitudes too. Thinking that children must put up with abusive behaviour as a lesson in building resilience or downgrading casual violence by likening it to horseplay or rough and tumble, is the negative undercurrent that drowns out legitimate cries for help from victims of bullying.

And the practical help being offered by projects like Jennifer’s must be supported and applauded. Her generosity of spirit, after all that she has been through, is awe-inspiring.