BULLYING IMPACT ON YOUNG YOUTH

BULLYING IMPACT ON YOUNG YOUTH

Bullied children and young adults often lose out on quality learning, as they are unable to come to schools or colleges in the right state of mind and shy away from reporting incidents due to lack of support. Their emotional trauma surpasses the physical assault in many cases.

A survey covering 9,000 men aged between 15 to 49 years, across the seven states in India, published by International Centre for Research on Women and UNFPA observed that exposure to violence and discrimination during childhood lead to boys internalising bullying as acceptable behaviour. Many victims of bullying indulge in self-harm to forget the mental torment they face. Most do not share their burden with their parents for fear of blame and silently suffer from anxiety, depression, and seclusion.

Bullying instils fear and self-loathing, and being a target repeatedly can damage the child’s ability to view themselves as a desirable and an effective individual later in life. Not only this, such trauma in the early years of life can lead them to make fewer positive choices and act less often in defence of their own happiness.