As a society, we’ve become more aware of bullying as a devastating form of abuse that can have long-terms effects on victims, negatively impacting their self-esteem, isolating them from their peers and in more serious cases, leading to depression, anxiety, substance abuse and sometimes suicide. Studies estimate that as many as 160,000 students may stay home on any given day because they’re afraid of being bullied and the emotional pain they’ve caused. With the prevalence of cyberbullying, even more youth and young adults are finding themselves to be a victim of bullying. May is National Mental Health Awareness Month and Magellan Health Services is calling attention to mental health and bullying for its second annual Take Mental Health To Heart campaign. Magellan has partnered with The Jed Foundation, the nation’s leading organization working to promote emotional health and prevent suicide among college students and young adults, to raise awareness about the mental health effects of bullying and encourage people to take responsibility for building a bully-free community. Throughout the month, Magellan and The Jed Foundation will share information about bullying from the perspective of the victim, the bully, parents and bystanders. Bullying Comes in Many Forms There are many types of bullying, all of which can be equally harmful emotionally and physically to the victim. Bullying may be verbal, when the bully uses derogatory or mocking words to attack the victim; social, when a bully or bullies isolate the victim from a social group or cause damage to the victim’s reputation; or physical, when a bully actually hurts the victim’s body or possessions. A recent study by the U.S. National Institutes of Health found that victims of cyberbullying, an increasingly popular form of bullying that involves the use of Internet, texting and social media to harm and intimidate others, showed more signs of depression than other bullying victims.
“Regardless of one’s age, bullying can take a tremendous hit to a person’s mental health, and some bullying survivors can carry the experience into adulthood,” says Gary Henschen, M.D., chief medical officer for behavioral health at Magellan. “Victims are more likely to suffer from anxiety disorders and depression, and these disorders can also cause difficulties with the victims' family, friends and co-workers in their future.”
“Cyberbullying is one of the most challenging aspects of bullying we’ve ever had to deal with, and it continues to evolve,” said Victor Schwartz, M.D., medical director for The Jed Foundation. “It used to be that bullying was confined to the playground, but now youth can be bullied even from the safety of home, and it’s out there for everyone to see. As adults, we need to model good online behavior and play a more active role in curbing the use of social media and mobile technology among youth for bullying.” Though we often think of school-aged children when we hear the word, “bullying”, it can also occur between adults through workplace bullying. This can include verbal abuse, offensive conduct, and/or non-verbal behaviors which are threatening, humiliating or intimidating. In some instances, these actions may even become illegal. Watching for the Warning Signs and Creating a Safer Environment For those falling victim to bullying, the effects can be devastating. Youth who are bullied are more likely to experience:- Depression and anxiety, increased feelings of sadness and loneliness, changes in sleep and eating patterns, loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy, and physical health complaints
- Decreased academic achievement and school participation
- Fear of riding the bus, visiting the school bathroom and being alone in school hallways
- Suicidal thoughts
There are ways everyone can help to prevent bullying. Steps you can take include:
- Helping your school or work community create a pledge promising that bullying in any form is unacceptable
- Encouraging members of your community to call out bullying when they see it—sometimes bullies don’t realize they’re bullying
- Designating an adult or leader as the go-to person for confidential help when someone is the victim of bullying
- Outlining expectations for respect and acceptance of others in your community
- If you’re a parent, talk to your children about bullying, and set expectations for the kinds of behaviors that are not acceptable inside or outside the home