It can make them feel unsafe and think there must be something wrong with them.
Children can lose confidence and may not want to go to school anymore. It may even make them sick.
Some people think bullying is just part of growing up and a way for young people to learn to stick up for themselves. But bullying can have long-term physical and psychological consequences.
Some of these
include:
- Withdrawal from family and school activities, wanting to be left alone.
- Shyness
- Stomachaches
- Headaches
- Panic Attacks
- Not being able to sleep
- Sleeping too much
- Being exhausted
- Nightmares
Bullying can have an effect on learning
Stress and anxiety caused by bullying and harassment can make it
more difficult for kids to learn. It can cause difficulty in
concentration and decrease their ability to focus, which affects their
ability to remember things they have learned.
Bully Related Suicide
In recent years, a series of bullying-related suicides in the US and across the globe have drawn attention to the connection between bullying and suicide. Though too many adults still see bullying as "just part of being a kid," it is a serious problem that leads to many negative effects for victims, including suicide. Many people may not realize that there is also a link between being a bully and committing suicide.
The statistics on bullying and suicide are alarming:- Suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people, resulting in about 4,400 deaths per year, according to the CDC. For every suicide among young people, there are at least 100 suicide attempts. Over 14 percent of high school students have considered suicide, and almost 7 percent have attempted it.
- Bully victims are between 2 to 9 times more likely to consider suicide than non-victims, according to studies by Yale University
- A study in Britain found that at least half of suicides among young people are related to bullying
- A new review of studies from 13 countries found signs of an apparent connection between bullying, being bullied, and suicide. (Yale School of Medicine)
- Suicide rates among children between the ages of 10 & 14 are very low, but are "creeping up." (Ann Haas, Director of the Suicide Prevention Project at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention)
Amanda Todd Suicide
The story of Amanda Todd, a 13 year old Vancouver girl who committed suicide in November 2012 after being bullied, brought international attention to the problem .
Before she died, Amanda's posted a video on You Tube in which she used a series of flash cards to tell of her experiences of being blackmailed, bullied and physically asssaulted. The video went viral after her death, and resulted in an international discussion about the issue and potential laws to deal with it.
A motion was introduced in the Canadian House of Commons to propose a study of the scope of bullying in Canada, and for more funding and support for anti-bullying organizations. Todd's mother, Carol, established the Amanda Todd Trust, receiving donations to support anti-bullying awareness education and programs for young people with mental health problems.
Amanda's story also resulted in another viral video of teenagers reacting to the bullying that caused her to commit suicide.
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Student bullying - infographic
"The statistics show a student is bullied every seven minutes in the U.S.A., and that most of the time, bullying occurs on playgrounds.
77% of students are bullied and cyber-bullying is rapidly approaching this percentage as well."
-
The high price of bullying in the US
"A global report on school violence identifies bullying as the biggest problem in US school playgrounds...
It's a short walk from schoolyard bullying to school violence." (BBC)
- Two Teenage Girls Try to Drown Themselves
- Bullying Canada
- Stand Up to Bullying Red Cross Site
- Real Stories About Bullying
- Lady Gaga and Oprah Lady Gaga and Oprah Tackle Bullying ( an entire reading and listening lesson)
- Canada Safety Council: School Bullies
