Bullying Impacts

Bullying. No matter where it happens, whether in school, at home, or online, bullying can make a great day one of your worst days ever. Bullying occurs when someone tries to hurt, intimidate, or embarrass someone else. Bullying can happen anywhere to anybody, and its effects not only hurt the victim but also the people around them.

About 20% of students nationwide from ages 12-18 are victims of bullying. This can be in the form of name-calling, taunting, spreading rumors about someone, hurting someone, or threatening to hurt them, and much more. This can cause someone to be embarrassed, ashamed of themselves, and depressed. 5.4 million students skip school at some point in the year because of bullying. Many bullying victims become disconnected from friends and family. They could have trouble sleeping and change their eating habits, which are lighter effects. Some suffer from substance abuse, PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder), and self-harm. Some see no other way to end the pain than to take their own life. If you ever feel this way, try talking to a trusted adult or counselor. Speaking to someone will be hard, but it's one of the first steps to betterment.  Even the bystanders involved in the bullying are more likely to start using alcohol, skip school, and have mental health problems.

Bullying also has adverse effects on the bully. Bullies are more likely to skip school, drop out of school, start using drugs and alcohol, and fight. 60% of boys who bullied others in middle school had at least one criminal conviction at age 24. They are more likely to abuse their spouse or child. Some also get arrested because of their bullying because they forget that bullying is illegal no matter where it happens.

This article doesn't even fully cover every effect that bullying may have; so, think about the next time you decide to bully someone. Remember the impact it can have on you, your victim, and others around you. If you are being bullied, try to talk to an adult. You can report bullying incidents verbally or through the district website here: Valley Stream Central High School District Parents/Students | Student Resources (vschsd.org). Try to keep your head up! We're here to help and support you!