Bullied Children Suffer Behavioral Problems;
Are at Risk for Suicide
by Kevin Caruso
A study published in Child Development magazine indicates that students who are bullied may be at a greater risk for developing antisocial behavior and depression.
And untreated depression is the number one cause for suicide. So, children who are bullied are at a risk for suicide.
Researchers observed playground activity of students from the start of kindergarten to the end of the first grade.
"Substantial rates of victimization were observed. On average, children were targets of peer physical or verbal harassment about once every three to six minutes," said lead researcher James Snyder.
The study found that many kindergarten students are bullied by fellow students, but when they reach the first grade, bullying is focused on a smaller group of perpetual victims.
"Some children experienced harassment with great regularity. Other children appeared to respond effectively to aggression by peers such that harassment experiences became increasingly intermittent," Snyder said.
The study found that girls who were bullied in kindergarten were more likely to be depressed at school and exhibit antisocial behavior at home.
Whereas, boys who were bullied were more likely to be depressed and exhibit antisocial behavior both at school and at home. And the boys who were depressed and/or antisocial in school actually attracted more bullying.
Most children that are bullied become depressed.
And untreated depression is the number one cause for suicide.
All children who are being bullied are at risk for dying by suicide.
Schools need to have a zero-tolerance anti-bullying policy in place to help prevent bullying. Please click below for additional information.
Important article on Bullying and Suicide
by Kevin Caruso
If a child is depressed because bullying is occurring, please take the child to a doctor and to a therapist immediately.
Contact the school and let the administrators know what happened, and demand action.
And do not send your child to school unless you believe it is safe to do so.
Bullying is a very serious problem; many children have died by suicide because of it.
So bullying always needs to be taken seriously.
If you or someone you know is suicidal, please go to the Home Page of this website for immediate help.
Thank you.
I love you.
Take care,
Kevin Caruso
