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One in three children in the world suffers from bullying.
Bullying is a mental health problem that must be faced
The heartbreaking story of Drayke Hardman, a 12-year-old boy who decided to take his own life after suffering a year of bullying, is not the only one; Today bullying is more notorious than ever, and all this has caused tragic outcomes, like this one that has gone around the world.
Stigmatizing others and making fun of them because of their skin color, their hair, their glasses, or their size is very common behavior in classrooms; and this can trigger violent behavior, where any minor is susceptible.
According to the latest data compiled by UNESCO, it was revealed that 30% of the world's students have been victims of bullying; that is, this behavior affects 1 in 3 children or adolescents.
Real cases of bullying that have aroused social sensitivity
In recent days, Drayke's story has made us think about how difficult bullying is, and how our children can experience it “alone”.
Many of the children who are victims of bullying suffer from anxiety, nerves and depression, and in order not to be further humiliated by their peers, they prefer to remain silent and hide what they are experiencing, keeping their parents away from the process.
One of the most viral cases of bullying in the world was that of little Jokin, a 14-year-old boy who decided to take his own life after being bullied by his classmates at the Talaia Institute in Hondarribia, Spain. This happened in 2004.
After the autopsy performed, it was discovered that the little boy had strong rosettes and beatings on his body, which were caused by his companions eight days before; that is, the aggression went from being verbal to physical.
The other case that shocked the entire world was that of Rebecca Ann Sedwick, this girl from Florida, United States, who decided to take her own life in 2013, after being a victim of bullying.
Despite being cared for by her parents, who decided to change her institution, the persecution continued through social networks and email, so Rebecca thought it was best to end her life.
And it is that the cases of cyberbullying also affect the emotional state of the victims; and for the attackers, the evil will have no limits.
Another true story of bullying and its terrible effect is that of Marion, a 13-year-old girl who decided to end her life in February 2013. The little girl was found by her mother, hanged with a handkerchief in her own bedroom.
Marion spent time being the victim of bullying and virtual harassment, by a group of colleagues who cornered her every day, inside and outside the institution.
These are some of the real cases that have gone around the world; and is not for less; today hundreds of young people have decided to attempt against their own lives, after being victims of bullying.
How to know if a child is being bullied?
We all must face bullying from each of our spheres. Parents, teachers, representatives, must face this type of aggression, however minimal they may seem.
In many of the cases mentioned above, the educational institutions did not act promptly, because for some, the ridicule of their classmates was "a youth thing", without knowing that this would cause such a tragic outcome.
In this sense, from home to school, work must be done for the mental health of children; and always be alert to these symptoms that show that a child is being bullied:
Decrease in school performance.
Difficulty of attention and concentration.
Social isolation, and apathy.
Guilty feeling.
Anxiety and depression.
Continuous desire to skip school.
Strange emotional expressions.
Crying.
These are some of the signs that can tell us if a child is being bullied at school.
Likewise, it is always valid to check their school supplies, and constantly ask their relationship with other classmates; because there are infants who prefer to hide what they feel, for fear of continuing to be mocked.
