Breaking the Silence: Teen Mental Health in the Age of Cyberbullying

Another significant factor linked to the rise in depression is the prevalence of cyberbullying. Cyberbullying is defined as, using technology to harass, threaten, embarrass or target another person. As more communication shifts online, the opportunities for harassment have increased exponentially. Unlike traditional bullying, which might have been confined to school grounds, cyberbullying can occur at any time and follow individuals into the supposed safety of their homes. Online bullying can be harder to address because it might be unclear who the bully is and how many people are involved. 

Victims of cyberbullying often experience relentless abuse through social media, messaging apps, and other online platforms. The anonymity of the internet can embolden bullies, leading to more severe and persistent forms of harassment. This constant exposure can result in chronic stress, fear, and feelings of helplessness, significantly impacting mental health and increasing the risk of depression.

What can you do?

The most important thing for teens to do is to tell an adult. This can feel scary or embarrassing to a teenager and they may fear that their parents won’t believe them or will get involved in a way that threatens to make the situation worse. The most important thing to do as a parent is to listen without judgement. Ask your teen questions to determine what they know about the bully and if the bully is anonymous, you may need to consider involving the police. In most situations however, you should advise your teen to do the following:

• Block the person when possible. There are settings on all devices that allow you to stop the bully from communicating with you.

• Step away from the situation. Encourage your teen to not engage with the bully under any circumstances as this feeds the bully’s power. Creating some space will also allow your teen to think about how they want to handle the situation.

• Report the bully to a site administrator if the bullying is happening on a social media site.

• However, if the bully is a friend, encourage your teen to try to talk to them. Standing up to a bully is not something the bully will like. Tell your teen to be direct, keep it short and stick with how the bully’s behavior makes your child feel instead of blaming the bully. If they start to attack you, tell your teen to walk away.

For more tips on bullying, check out https://www.stopbullying.gov/ and https://ditchthelabel.org/