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- Many children are bullied at school
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- Bullies are almost as prone to depression, and even more
likely to have strong suicidal urges than those they bully, a study suggests.
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- It is obvious that bullied children can suffer from depression
- and tragic cases have illustrated the risk of suicide.
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- But the Finnish investigation, published in the British
Medical Journal, shows that the mental state of those behind the bullying
can be even more precarious.
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- Bullying experts say that this is because bullies often
have low self-esteem, or unhappy home lives.
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- One quarter of girl bullies depressed
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- Boys and girls between the ages of 14 and 16 were surveyed
by researchers from the National Public Health Institute in Helsinki.
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- They found that a quarter of bullying girls were depressed
- the same percentage as those complaining of being bullied.
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- Eight per cent of bullied girls had suicidal thoughts,
and the same proportion of the bullies had experienced similar feelings.
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- Childline offers cofidential adviceAmong the boys, although
fewer bullies were depressed, 8% of bullies had suicidal thoughts, as opposed
to 4% of their victims.
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- About one in ten schoolchildren in the sample reported
being bullied at least once a week at school.
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- The researchers noted: "Bullies need support for
normal development to proceed, and any interventions should also recognise
the role of depressive disorders in the background of their behaviour."
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- They called for psychiatric assessment of bullies as
well as the bullied.
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- John Hall, childrens' services manager with Childline,
a charity which runs counselling helplines for children, said that bullying
behaviour could be a sign of unhappiness.
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- 'A feeling of power'
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- He said: "Bullying is often linked with low self-esteem,
and feelings of failure.
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- "Some of the bullies who talk to us describe family
problems. Bullying often occurs in groups, and gives children a role, a
sense of power, whereas in actual fact, that is not the case in their own
lives."
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- He said that a "no blame" approach to the problem
pioneered in schools could prove effective, although he warned that some
bullies were driven only by the enjoyment of the act, and having the opportunity
to do it.
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- Bullies or bullied children who would like to talk to
someone in confidence can call Childline on (0800) 1111
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- Parents looking for advice can call Parentline on (01702)
559900
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