Bullying can have lasting negative impacts on children who are victims as well as those who witness it. It can affect a child’s self-image, their performance in school, the way in which they socialize with others, as well as lead to mental health problems.

According to StopBullying.gov, bullying has been linked to depression, substance abuse, anxiety and even suicide.

StopBullying.gov  lists the following negative outcomes that a bullied child may experience:

• Depression and anxiety disorders, symptoms of borderline personality disorder, changes in sleep and eating patterns, and loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy, like sports teams and clubs.
• Self-esteem issues with feelings of shame that can impact all aspects of kids’ lives.
• Health complaints, including higher rates of headaches, stomach aches, and colds.
• Behaviors, like increased rates of smoking, that increase the risk of future health concerns, like higher stress levels and sleeping problems.
• Decreased academic achievement, like lower GPA, standardized test scores, and school participation. They are more likely to miss, skip, or drop out of school.
• Struggles with friendships and maintaining relationships later in life.

The site also states that a small percentage of bullied children may even retaliate towards those who have bullied them.

A U.S. Secret Service analysis of K-12 violence cases published in 2019, indicates that 80% of the attackers with behavioral histories report being bullied by classmates.

A study, “School Shooters: Patterns of Adverse Childhood Experiences, Bullying, and Social Media”, published by the National Library of Medicine in January of 2019 found that 60% of school shooters reported being bullied in-person or online.

Suicide is among the most serious of concerns when it comes to bullying. Another study published by the National Library of Medicine, “Relationship between Bullying and Suicidal Behaviour in Youth presenting to the Emergency Department”, conducted on adolescents under 18 between January of 2011 and January of 2015 found that 77% of the adolescents had experienced bullying.

Children who witness bullying can also be impacted. It can lead them to feel unsafe at school or have feelings of helplessness because they were not able to help an individual being bullied. They can also suffer from depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.

For both the victims of bullying as well as witnesses, it can lead to these children skipping school and having poor attendance.

It’s important to talk to your children and stay aware of what is going on in their lives in and out of school so that you can take the proper steps to ensure their safety.

If your child is being bullied at school notify the administration immediately.

If bullying has caused your child to struggle with his or her mental health, speak with their pediatrician about being referred to a mental health counselor.

If you suspect that your child is being bullied but they will not talk about it, there are still things you can do. An article published by The Child Mind Institute, “What to Do When Your Child Won’t Talk About Being Bullied” cites the following things you can watch for:

• Physical complaints: Stomachaches, headaches, or other ailments that pop up before school
• Avoidance: Refusing to go to school, skipping activities, or faking illness
• Changes in mood: Becoming irritable, withdrawn, or unusually anxious
• Sleep issues: Nightmares, bedwetting, or trouble falling asleep
• Missing or damaged belongings: Unexplained broken glasses, lost electronics, or ripped clothing

When bullying happens online, look for:

• Hiding phones or slamming laptops shut when you walk in the room
• Sudden deletion of social media accounts or creation of new ones
• Blocking numbers or removing friends
• Extreme emotional reactions — anger, tears, panic — after a notification
• Dramatic increases or decreases in screen time

If your child has been bullied and is having thoughts of suicide you can reach out to the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline https://988lifeline.org/ at any time, day or night. You can dial or text 988.