The mental health consequences of bullying

Their child is being bullied. It is behavior that can have serious mental health consequences. This morning’s topic is “Maryland Peace of Mind.” Join us is dr. Kristi Phillips, a psychologist in the Children and Family Clinic at the Kennedy Krieger Institute. Thank you for joining us. When a child is bullied, it is not just for today. It has a lasting effect. >> Not at all. You will discover that you will start to see social withdrawal almost immediately. They may refuse to go to school or feel like they have a lot of stomachaches or headaches, which can contribute to anxiety. You can also experience constant anxiety that can continue into adulthood. We should be aware of all these things. Jason: For parents, is there a particular age group that you see as most at risk? >> We know that about 20 or 25% of children between the ages of 12 and 18 are bullied at some point in their lives. The highest rate of bullying tends to be in middle school students. Jason: We spend a lot of time talking about the person who was bullied, but let’s talk about the bully themselves. What do you know about the person who chooses this method? >> We know a lot of times, a child who chooses often has a lot of worries. They may be trying to get attention, trying to build their popularity in some way. Oftentimes, we know that they have lower self-esteem and that they have experienced violence in their lives. So we know there could be other mental health concerns that they experience as well. Jason: Social media seems like bullying with fuel. Tell me about cyberbullying. >> Cyberbullying is a tough challenge. It’s something that can sometimes be done anonymously. You can bully anyone anonymously by just getting on the internet and using different social media apps or message boards. The most important things families can do is to take notice when it happens and to be aware of what your children are doing online. You can use monitoring apps or software or you can follow or befriend them on their pages. Just to make sure you keep an eye on what your kids are up to. Jason: There’s a little time left. When is the time for a parent to decide that their child should seek professional help? >> This is an important piece. We know that many children struggle with the effects of bullying and it is not appropriate to ask for help. You want to seek help if you feel your child is having difficulty. There are plenty of other resources that parents can use. Even before the bullying happens. You can look online at SYOPBULLYING.GOV. Jason: Thank you. We appreciate that. We have more facts about bullying, prevention, and how to seek help on WBALTV.COM. Click on “Peace of Mind Maryland”. And a reminder, if you or someone you know is experiencing mental health issues, you can call 988 for immediate help. We also have an additional list of Maryland resources at WBALTV.CO

Peace of mind in Maryland: The mental health consequences of bullying

Updated: 9:17 AM EST Jan 30, 2023

No parent wants to hear that their child is being bullied. It is behavior that can have serious mental health consequences. This is the subject of Maryland’s “Peace of Mind” segment. Joining us is Dr. Kristi Phillips, a psychologist in the Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Child and Family Therapy Clinic. She talks about the risks and long-term effects that can come from bullying.

Baltimore –

No parent wants to hear that their child is being bullied. It is behavior that can have serious mental health consequences. This is the subject of Maryland’s “Peace of Mind” segment. Joining us is Dr. Kristi Phillips, a psychologist in the Kennedy Krieger Institute’s Child and Family Therapy Clinic. She talks about the risks and long-term effects that can come from bullying.