Back to school — and bullying

Laurel Kelly | (TNS) Mayo Clinic News Network

For many families, the start of school is a busy, exciting time of year. For some students, though, returning to school also means bullying and the feelings of anxiety, sadness, and loneliness bullying can cause.

Up to 20% of students 12 to 18 years old experience bullying in the U.S. each year, and only 46% notify an adult at school about the bullying, according to StopBullying.gov, which is a resource managed by the Department of Health and Human Resources dedicated to providing information about bullying.

What is bullying?

Bullying is a form of aggression in which one or more children repeatedly and intentionally intimidate, harass or harm a victim perceived to be less powerful. While bullying once was considered a childhood rite of passage, it is now recognized as a serious problem that can affect a child’s physical health, emotional well-being and academic performance. Children who are bullied are at increased risk of depression, anxiety, sleep problems, self-harm, poor academic performance and, in rare cases, suicide.

Bullying can take many forms, including:

— Physical: This type of bullying includes hitting, tripping and kicking, as well as destruction of a child’s property.

— Verbal: Verbal bullying includes teasing, name-calling, taunting and making inappropriate sexual comments.

— Psychological or social: This type of bullying involves spreading rumors about a child, embarrassing the child in public or excluding the child from a group.

— Electronic: Cyberbullying involves threatening or harming others through the use of email, websites, social media platforms, text messages, or videos and photos shared electronically.

What can you do?