It's not unusual for young people to be left out of friend groups at school. Social exclusion is sadly common among children and adolescents, from occasional ignorance to persistent bullying.

However, this doesn't mean that social exclusion isn't harmful. Social exclusion and peer rejection can have serious consequences for young people's mental health, leading to emotional and behavioural problems and low self-esteem. Social exclusion that is based on prejudice or bias is particularly damaging.