A 15-year-old student of a private school in Delhi told her therapist her classmates mocked her for her height, skin colour and academic performance for years. Grappling with low self-esteem - she was derided by some teachers as well - the teenager turned to cutting her wrist.

Students at Calwell High School in Canberra's south are sent home for the last week of term 1 after WorkSafe ACT found the current school environment was unsafe for teachers and students.

As Benito Luna-Herrera teaches his 7th grade social studies classes, he is on alert for signs of inner turmoil