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Bullying and Its Impact on Mental Health

Bullying it's a word that makes you shudder, right? Almost everyone has witnessed or experienced it in some form. It's not just an aggressive act but a repeating problem that can severely impact the lives of young people like yourself. Whether it's happening at school, on social media platforms, or even within friend groups, the effects of bullying can extend far beyond the immediate moment of being picked on or harassed.

Understanding Bullying

First off, let's nail down what bullying really involves. Bullying is when someone repeatedly and intentionally uses words or actions against someone else with the intention of causing distress and risk to their wellbeing. It can be physical, like hitting or pushing, verbal like name-calling or teasing, or even psychological, including spreading rumours or excluding others from a group.

The transition from primary to secondary school or moving into college or university can sometimes exacerbate these issues, as changes in social circles and environments can often embolden bullies or unsettle the social balance.

The Real-Life Impact on Mental Health

If you're being bullied, it's not just the physical bruises that hurt. The emotional scars can be even deeper and more long-lasting. Victims can develop fear and anxiety about going to school or other places where the bully might be present. This fear can lead to avoiding social situations, loss of interest in activities you once loved, and sometimes drastic measures like skipping school altogether.

Bullying can also lead to more severe mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. The feeling of being isolated or "different" can intensify these feelings. In some cases, prolonged bullying has been linked to more significant mental health crises, including thoughts of suicide.

Case Example: Consider Jake, a 15-year-old who started getting bullied online because of his weight. As the comments piled up, Jake began to withdraw from his friends and family. He felt embarrassed and ashamed like it was his fault. He started to skip meals and became obsessively worried about his appearance, showing signs of developing an eating disorder.

How Can You Deal With Bullying?

Dealing with bullying is tough, but remember, it's not your fault, and there are strategies you can use to protect yourself and heal from the damage.

• Talk About It: Keeping things bottled up is exactly what the bully wants. Speak to someone you trust a friend, a teacher, a family member, or a school counsellor. Just talking about what you're going through can lighten your emotional load and help you gain a supportive perspective.
• Document Instances: Keep a record of bullying instances. Note down dates, what happened, and how it made you feel. This can be important in showing the extent of the bullying and can serve as evidence if the situation needs escalating.
• Find Your Crew: Surround yourself with friends who support and uplift you. There's strength in numbers, and being around people who care about you can improve your self-esteem and sense of security.
• Block and Report: On social media, don't hesitate to block bullies and report their activities to the platform admins. Online platforms have policies against bullying, and they can take action on your behalf.

Getting Professional Help

Sometimes, dealing with the emotional aftermath of bullying needs more than just talking to friends and family. If you find yourself feeling depressed, anxious, or even just unusually sad, it may be time to talk to a professional. Therapists and psychologists specialise in helping you find strategies to manage your feelings and regain your confidence and happiness.

Resources You Can Use:

The UK offers several amazing resources for young people dealing with bullying:

• Kidscape: Provides advice, training, and support for children and their parents.
• Childline: Offers free, confidential advice and support whenever you need help.
• The Mix: Provides a free confidential helpline and online service for under-25s, offering support on any issue you're facing.

In Conclusion

Remember, you're not alone in this. Bullying is never okay, and it's not a reflection of your worth or personality. There are people who will listen and actions you can take to reclaim your space. Emotional and psychological wounds need time to heal, but with the right support and approaches, recovery is not just a possibility; it's a very likely outcome.

How are you feeling?

It is really important that when we need help, we feel able to ask for it. This could be speaking to a parent, a close friend, a teacher or someone else you trust. Sometimes it can be really hard to share our feelings with other people but if we are feeling low or don't know where to turn, sharing with others is really important. Teachers will always take you seriously and listen to your problems in confidence if you approach them for help. Likewise, parents, siblings or friends will help you if you reach out to them.

If you feel like you can't speak to anyone you know, there are people and organisations that can help support you:

• Childline - Call them on 0800 1111 any time of the day or night, every day of the week
• NSPCC - Call them on 0808 800 5000 between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday or email them on help@NSPCC.org.uk
• The Samaritans – Call them on 116 123 any time of the day or night, every day of the week
• SANE – Call 0300 304 7000 for support (4:30pm - 10:30pm every day)
• Mind – Call 0300 123 3393 (9:00am - 6:00pm Monday to Friday)

*Sometimes we will use real life examples in our articles to aid understanding. When we do, names and ages will be changed.