Public Name Calling Is Harmful
Bullying is a form of emotional and psychological mistreatment. It often stems from a desire to feel power or control over someone more vulnerable. What many don’t realize is how deeply this can affect a teen’s mental health—sometimes being the silent trigger behind depression.
When you think of teenage depression, you might picture a girl crying in her room or a boy who no longer joins his friends on the field. But depression wears many faces—and bullying is one of the hidden causes behind it.
Not So “Kool” After All
Most of us remember what name-calling felt like. Some brush it off as “part of growing up,” but it’s far more serious than that. Public humiliation, social exclusion, and repeated insults go beyond simple teasing—they become emotional attacks that can scar a teen’s self-worth.
When bullying becomes relentless, it feeds the internal voice that says, “You’re not good enough.”
The Hidden Cost of Exclusion
When a teen is mocked, rejected, or left out of social events, it doesn’t just sting—it isolates. That loneliness breeds negative thoughts and deep sadness. Teens may begin questioning their value and wondering, “What’s wrong with me?”—the first signs of depression.
“Sometimes the people you think are your friends are the ones hurting you the most.”
The Vicious Cycle: Bullying ↔ Depression
Research shows a strong connection between peer acceptance and emotional well-being. When kids feel rejected, their risk of depression increases. Ironically, teens already struggling with depression can become easier targets for bullies too—creating a painful, self-reinforcing cycle.
How to Spot the Signs
If your teen is reluctant to go to school, frequently complains of headaches, stomachaches, or other vague illnesses, they may be trying to avoid bullies. Don’t dismiss these red flags.
Also be alert for:
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Social withdrawal
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Sudden changes in mood or sleeping habits
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Loss of interest in things they once loved
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Avoiding online platforms due to cyberbullying
Let’s Talk About the Bullies
Bullies often act from a place of pain or insecurity themselves, but that doesn’t excuse their actions. If your child is being bullied—online or offline—let them know they’re not alone. Encourage them to report incidents and advocate for their safety at school.
Support Starts With Listening
Your teen needs to know you’re in their corner. Start by:
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Believing them
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Listening without judgment
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Helping them seek guidance counselors, school administrators, or mental health professionals
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Monitoring online activity and encouraging digital safety
Take Action Together
The scars from bullying don’t always show on the outside, but they cut deep. Helping your teen stand tall again takes time, love, and support.
Learn more: NoBullying.com – The Link Between Bullying, Depression, and Suicide
Together, we can stop the silence and break the connection between bullying and depression.
Bullying worries me tremendously. There is a girl in my daughter’s class who has been targeting certain students and it is horrible. Thank you for providing these resources!
Tara, a child gets bully in school playground daily. It’s our job to work closely with school bring awareness to forefront so that we can save a child life .
Good information, Patrice. As someone who has 2 small children under the age of 5, I’m already thinking ahead (of course) to grade school. What will they face? How will they deal with it? How will I help them to deal? Great advice. Thanks again.
Rani, We need to be aware of bullying. If your child is afraid to go to school, sad , and grades are declining could be depressed.
It confirms what I have known and have experienced in my own life. That anxiety..grrrrr.
Thank you for the tips. I will definitely be on the look out with the youths that I work with at church.
This is a great post. I have small children so I don’t think bullying is as prominent, but I know it can happen at any age. We just need to teach our kids the importance of treating everyone with respect no matter their differences. It starts at home first.
Heather, Good point teach our kids to accept and treat others with respect.
Bullying is a huge problem and it really upsets me when I hear what people are going through. And the Internet, and text messaging can even make it so much worse then it was years ago, prior to all this technology.
Sicorra@NotNowMomsBusy, Yes, indeed Bullying a problem that is growing. We need to be vigilant in our child internet & text usage. Thanks for your support
Bullying is really sad. I have actually watched grown women recently do it. It is terrible and I had to have a talk with them. It really is something that people see, do, and keep with them as they grow older.
Holly, A sad case Bullying is in Nursing too. Bullying is not only for kids…adults sometime continue their behavior. I am so glad you talk with them. Thanks for your support.
I can’t believe so many people are bullied, it really is an issue. Thank you for bringing some insight to this.
My older four have all been bullied at one time or another and I worry about my youngest two also. Everything being on line and shared across the whole world forever concerns me a lot. It’s so different and harder for kids now then it was for us since there was no internet, Thanks for he info
Sharon, I just became on Facebook 11/2014 late in the game but was amaze and shock at what people share but I notice that Facebook is trying to educated and I did read an article( please do not quote me about Facebook/depression). Cyberbullying or any kind of bullying has to stop .
Thanks again for shedding light on such an important topic. As a pediatrician I see so many teens presenting with complaints related to stress or bullying or depression and often the parents are unaware.
Nadeen, Often times the Parents are the last to know. The media & schools, are more aware of these issues hopefully will lessen these acts.
Great information. I’m glad my two kids didn’t have to go through this. I’m worried about my twin granddaughters, though. I’m the one taking care of them and in two years they will go the big school.
I am not looking forward to when my kids get to this age. Thanks for the great info.
I wish teachers pay more attention to this problem at school; so often it goes unnoticed
When I was a teen, I was a popular cheerleader and bullied. I ended up having to leave my school to get peace. I wish I there were resources back then. Happy to see things are changing nowadays!
Stacie, More exposure and that is a great thing. Thanks for support.
This is such great information. It is terrible that bullying has gotten so bad. I would not want to be a kid again.
Bullying is a troubling issue that our kids are having to deal with. Luckily so far my daughter has not had to deal with it too much yet. There a few kids in her class that are starting to make fun of the other kids and I am hoping that will not continue next year. Thank you for the resources.
Esther, Bullying is a serious matter. We have to continue teach awareness to our youth.
It’s so crazy how much more prevalent bullying has gotten. As a mom of 3, it worries me but the only thing my husband and I can do is be proactive about it. We talk to our kids and we explain to them that they should never look to hurt anyone, but always defend themselves, which is why they take Taekwondo.
Christine @MomsNCharge, Your kids will be all right, they are well prepared to protect themselves. The more we talk about it and get involved in school I think we may see less bullying activities.
I am so concerned about bullying. I think I would try to walk that fine line between knowing when to let your child take care of it on their own and when to step in as the parent. I hope I never have to figure it out!
LaShawn, This is a Hard decision indeed .
Bullying is so wide spread and out of control these. I definitely think the internet plays a big part. It’s really sad to see how many teens deal with bullying and depression. Something has to change.
Thanks for sharing these resources Patrice. Bullying is such a prevalent issue that it’s great to know the what to look for and how to take action.
Vashti (veepeejay.com), Keep sharing and talking about Bullying issues I think we will see a decrease in incidence.
Thank you for providing this resource. I remember being bullied in elementary school, but it was nothing like this cyber-bullying that takes place now. It’s so important for parents to pay attention to these signs with their kids.
Julian, Cyberbullying has increase with the internet and easy access to social media. I am hoping because so many people are talking about these issues we will start to see decreases
my son is getting ready to go to middle school in a few years and I’m scared of the transition. These are great resources.
Mimi, Don’t be scared his transition will more than likely goes well.
What bothers me is that we as adults are some of the biggest bullies there are and our kids emulate what we do more than what we say. This is a great signal to be mindful of the way we treat others.
Kimberly, Kids tend to imitate parents
Bullying is such a big problem and never ok.