Reference no: EM133717105

The Mental Health Impact of Bullying

Students who are bullied by other students at school are more likely to develop depression. The most common signs of depression include sleep problems, appetite changes, emotional disturbances, and even thoughts of suicide. Children who experience depression may lose enjoyment in activities that once brought them happiness.

Bullying can make students more likely to develop anxiety. Anxiety may develop because students fear bullying at every turn. Anxiety makes it harder for people to form relationships with friends, peers, and teachers.

Bullying can make it harder for kids to succeed in the classroom. This can make it hard for them to keep up with their academic studies. If students are bullied regularly, they may not want to go to school or participate in school-related activities, like sports or field trips.

Children who are bullied may see themselves as being less worthy than others. They may feel like other people are better than they are. They may believe they do not deserve to enjoy the same happiness and success as other children.

This can be devastating to academic and social development, and can have varying results.

Loss of Self-Confidence

One of the first effects children and teens feel if they are bullied is a loss of confidence. For example, kids often feel like they are not as good at a particular sport as the person bullying them. They may feel like they do not even deserve to try out for a certain activity. This loss of self-confidence can affect other areas of life.

Increased Self-Criticism

Kids who are bullied are often harsh on themselves. They may have heard negative statements from the bully so often that they start to believe the statements are true. They may start to feel bad about something that cannot possibly change, such as their hair color, skin color, or height.

They may also feel shame or embarrassment about events or behaviors that a bully further shames them about.

Increased Self-Isolation

Kids who are bullied often feel so bad about themselves that they try to isolate themselves from their peers, family members, and friends. They may spend a lot of time closed off in their rooms when they are not at school. They may not want to go to school at all.

It is worth noting that bullying can impact not only the victim but also the perpetrator.

Children who bully others are at a greater risk of getting into physical fights, verbal altercations, and are less likely to take responsibility for their actions. Research also shows that children who bully others are at risk of developing antisocial behaviors. These include significant academic problems, substance use disorders, and aggressive behaviors.