Issues related to bullying

Being the target of bullying is a devastating experience. Children may ask themselves what they did to
deserve the bullying or why it is happening to them. The answer is that it is not their fault. However,
they are still left to manage the short-term and long-term impacts of this painful experience.

Short-term impacts of bullying on children are:

– Struggles with mental health such as anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, post traumatic stress
disorder, self-harm, and suicidal thoughts.
– A hard time making friends and a difficult time trusting those friends.
– A decline in academic performance.
– A desire to avoid going to school.
Long-term impacts of bullying:
– A change in how the individual views themselves, others, and the world. For example, they may
see themselves as worthless or not deserving of love and they may see others as unsafe.
– A lack of trust in others.
– A continued struggle with the mental health concerns mentioned above.