TEENAGE BULLYING AND DEPRESSION
As evidence continues to accumulate that bullying is not an acceptable “right of passage” for children and teenagers, new research links teenage bullying and depression. The large study examined the link between bullying by peers in teenage years and depression in early adulthood. Researchers found that young teens who were frequently bullied were more than twice as likely to suffer depression for more than two years by the time they reached adulthood than their non-bullied peers. This effect proved to be true for both males and females. The bullying took the form of name-calling and having belongings taken away by bullies. Because most teens never report these behaviors to adults, parents should look for signs that their children are being bullied.
Of course, bullying is just one possible root of depression. Many people become depressed for many reasons. Sometimes, people can become depressed for no reason at all. If you are dealing with bullying or with depression for any reason our experienced counselors can help you deal with your depression, no matter what the root cause. Call one of our offices today.
P.S. Being bullied in childhood has been linked to greater risk of obesity, strokes, and heart attacks later in life.