Written by Dev Shroff
An old problem that continues to live on today, bullying, which affects victims across the world, can be pervasive in a child’s life for many reasons. More than just the act of being teased in school, being bullied can leave lasting impacts on the mental and emotional health of victims. Children who go through bullying often suffer alone, facing emotional trauma that can last through their adult lives. Further exacerbating the humiliation, fear, and isolation that bullying causes, modern technology extends bullying to environments outside of school, allowing it to consume the lives of victims around the clock. Bullying has detrimental effects on young children and the people around them, making it imperative to spread awareness about this issue.
Bullying subjects victims to constant fear and anxiety, leading to heightened stress levels. Over time, these emotional pressures may manifest into clinical anxiety or depression, which can persist well into adulthood. In addition, repeated belittlement can lead to a diminished sense of self-worth. Victims may internalize negative messages and develop a negative self-image, affecting their confidence and ability to form healthy relationships. In severe cases, relentless bullying can induce symptoms akin to PTSD. This creates situations that are very difficult to cope with and can lead to children withdrawing from social activities and isolating themselves from friends and family.
In some cases, victims of bullying may internalize their pain, leading to an outburst of anger and aggression. They might redirect their frustration on others, causing a cycle of harm. Prolonged bullying can create a sense of helplessness, leading to feelings of hopelessness about their situation. This emotional burden can severely hinder a child's development and academic performance. Trust is crucial in forming healthy relationships, but bullying can erode a child's ability to trust others. These trust issues can hinder children's social and emotional growth, causing difficulties in forming meaningful connections.
Increasing awareness about the detrimental effects of bullying is vital for the mental and emotional health of kids worldwide; however, there are other ways to improve circumstances for bullied children. For instance, showing kindness and empathy to everyone helps address the root of the issue. It is also important for schools to adopt anti-bullying programs that create an environment where bullying is discouraged. These programs can provide counseling, support victims, and encourage students to report incidents. Schools can also encourage bystanders to stand up for students who are being bullied, which can reduce instances of bullying and teach students to intervene. This creates safer learning environments, which benefits all students. Outside of school, children who experience bullying may require support from parents and siblings as well as mental health professionals so that they can have a safe space to share their feelings and experiences to heal properly.
SOURCES
“Effects of Bullying on Mental Health | StopBullying.gov.” Stop Bullying.gov, 25 October 2019, https://www.stopbullying.gov/blog/2019/10/25/effects-bullying-mental-health. Accessed 1 August 2023.
“The Mental Health Impact of Bullying on Kids and Teens.” McLean Hospital, 5 January 2022, https://www.mcleanhospital.org/essential/bullying-kids-teens. Accessed 1 August 2023.
Warner, Meaghan. “The impact of bullying on mental health | McGovern Medical School.” McGovern Medical School, 12 March 2021, https://med.uth.edu/psychiatry/2021/03/12/the-impact-of-bullying-on-mental-health/. Accessed 1 August 2023.
Comments