Young Cyberbullying Victims are at Double-Risk of Self-Harm

*The following is excerpted from an online article posted on PsychCentral.

A new UK study finds that children and young people under-25 who become victims of cyberbullying are more than twice as likely to enact self-harm and attempt suicide than non-victims.

An interesting aspect of cyberbullying is that the perpetrator, or the person committing cyberbullying, is also more likely to experience suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

The collaborative research, led by investigators at the University of Birmingham, included the review of more than 150,000 children and young people across 30 countries, over a 21-year period.

Their findings, published on open access in PLOS One, highlighted the significant impact that cyberbullying involvement (as bullies and victims) can have on children and young people.

The researchers say it shows an urgent need for effective prevention and intervention in bullying strategies.

The study also found a strong link between being a cyber-victim and a perpetrator. This duality was found to particularly put males at higher risk of depression and suicidal behaviors.

It was also found that students who were cyber-victimized were less likely to report and seek help than those victimized by more traditional means, thus highlighting the importance for staff in schools to encourage “help-seeking” in relation to cyberbullying.

The researchers highlighted that these vulnerabilities should be recognized at school so that cyberbullying behaviors would be seen as an opportunity to support vulnerable young people, rather than for discipline.

Professor Paul Montgomery, University of Birmingham explains, “Prevention of cyberbullying should be included in school anti-bullying policies. Guidelines for broader concepts such as digital citizenship, online peer support for victims, and how an electronic bystander might appropriately intervene, are necessary. Moreover, specific interventions such as how to contact mobile phone companies and Internet service providers to block, educate, or identify users should be created.

“Suicide prevention and intervention is essential within any comprehensive anti-bullying program and should incorporate a whole-school approach to include awareness raising and training for staff and pupils.”

Source: PsychCentral
https://psychcentral.com/news/2017/08/21/young-cyberbullying-victims-are-at-double-risk-of-self-harm/124945.html