Bullies. Every classroom seems to have one. In another age, bullying was considered a rite of passage; but that was before the massacres at Columbine and Virginia Tech. We now know that bullying can have long-lasting effects, both for bullies and their victims. Since April, at least three children have committed suicide as the result of bullying, according to news reports.
“Children who are bullied have higher rates of depression, anxiety, low self-esteem and other mental health conditions. Children who are bullied are more likely to think about suicide, and some of these wounds may linger into adulthood,” warns the Mayo Clinic in a recent online report.
Almost half of all schoolchildren are bullied at some point, according to the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. Bullying can happen to any child, but young children and those with few friends are the most at risk. Bullying need not be physical (punching, hitting, kicking or destruction of property); teasing, name-calling, racial slurs, gossip, malicious rumors, and other verbal abuse can be even more damaging. Internet and cell phone access has moved bullying out of the school yard and onto the Internet. Called cyberbullying, electronic harassment makes it easy for children to malign, embarrass or threaten their peers anonymously.
As the school year starts, it’s important for parents to tune in to their children and watch for the warning signs of bullying:
- Bruises, scrapes or other injuries
- Ripped or missing clothing or personal possessions
- Few friends or statements such as “nobody likes me”
- Headaches, stomachaches or other physical complaints
- Trouble eating
- Trouble sleeping or nightmares
- Anxiety when preparing for school or talking about school
- Fear of going to school or playing hooky
- Trouble concentrating on schoolwork; declining or failing grades
- Fighting or behavioral problems
- Depression, listlessness
- Suicidal statements such as “you’d be better off without me”
With the advent of cyberbullying through emails, instant messaging, Facebook and blogs, bullying has become so prevalent that the American Academy of Pediatrics is urging pediatricians to include signs of bullying in patient assessments. Referral to a board-certified psychiatrist with an expertise in cognitive-behavioral therapy may be required to prevent the harmful effects of bullying or treat anxiety/depression caused by bullying.
Next time: What parents can do about bullying