Bullying in School: A Crisis We Can’t Ignore
You know 1 out of 4 Australian students dread walking through the school door? Not scared of tests or homework, but terrified of being mocked, excluded, or physically hurt.
Bullying in schools is spreading as a global pandemic. Yet schools and communities treat it as a minor subject & ignore its impact. UNESCO reports that 32% of children experience bullying globally. It means millions of students with risks to their mental health, education, and future.
Given the complexity & seriousness of issue, timely steps need to be taken. This blog explores why bullying persists and how we can deal with it using tools like the Wihkum app.
What is Bullying in Schools? How to Identify the Cases?
Bullying is not a simple disagreement or one-time fight. It’s a pattern of repeated & intentional harm, where one person holds power over another. This power imbalance can be physical strength, social status, or even anonymity (in cyberbullying).
Remember that simply mean behaviour a person or conflicts among the students can’t be labelled as bullying. It must be:
- Repetitive (show the pattern of events instead of just an argument)
- Power imbalance (The bully has some sort of superiority or advantage over the victim)
- Intentional & on purpose (heated arguments driven by disagreements aren’t bullying)
- Involves harm (the victim is getting physical, emotional or psychological harm)
According to National Crime Victimization Survey, 15.4% of students get bullied with a power imbalance, 14.5% being bullied repeatedly, and 12.7% cases involved both power imbalance and repetition. Let’s discuss the types to know the phenomenon in detail.
Types of Bullying: What Shapes Can It Take?
Well, in order to properly identify and report the cases, you must know all the shapes of it.
Mostly people see as only as one kid being beaten by a group of mean brats. But it is far more complex than that. Sometimes it is super obvious (overt), while other times it is or subtle and hard to prove action (covert). Common types include:
- Verbal Bullying: Insults, threats, racist or sexist comments, and hate speech.
- Physical Bullying: Hitting, kicking, stealing belongings, or damaging property.
- Cyber Bullying: Harassment via social media, texts, or online gaming.
- Social Bullying: Spreading rumours, excluding from groups, or public shaming.
Adults misunderstand it & dismiss verbal teasing or social exclusion as “harmless.” However, research suggests otherwise. A 2022 study in JAMA Pediatrics found that social bullying increases suicide risk by 50% compared to physical bullying.
Hence, we need to treat all bullying as harmful.
Global Data of Bullying in Schools: How Common Is it?
The global data on school bullying paints a clear and alarming picture. It is not only a debate on paper, but a widespread issue with devastating consequences. It affects millions of children each year, from all continents, cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
- 27% Australian students reported being bullied every few weeks.
- 32% of 5-year-olds and 29% of 8-year-olds reported frequent school bullying.
- 1 out of 5 young school students reported experiencing cyberbullying.
- 72% of schools reported at least one incident of online bullying per year.
- 19% of 9–12 grade students reported being bullied on school property in one year.
Sources: Youth Risk Behaviour Surveillance System, Bullying No Way
If we see the numbers for each type of bullying:
| Type of Bullying | % of Students Affected (U.S.) | Global % | Prevalence |
| Verbal | 45% | 37% | 70% of bullying cases |
| Social | 35% | 28% | 60% of bullied students |
| Physical | 25% | 22% | 30% of bullying cases |
| Cyber | 15% | 12% | Growing at 35% annually |
| Sources: CDC, UNESCO | |||
Such a high number of cases rule out the phenomenon from being random. It’s fuelled by several systemic issues & psychological reasons.
Why Does Bullying Happen?
Bullying is not an isolated issue, but emerges from a combination of triggers, psychological concerns and cultural biases. Let’s analyse the layers.
1. The Bully’s Psychology: Why they Decide in Favour of Bullying?
Bullies aren’t born cruel; there are complex psychological concerns behind such behaviour. Most of the bullies act this way due to:
- Stress and trauma: Yeah, bullying can be their unhealthy coping mechanism.
- Low self-esteem or past bullying: They want to regain their sense of control. A 2019 Yale study found that 70% of bullies use aggression to mask vulnerability.
- Desire for power: Some students use this as a tool to get unfair advantages.
- Social trends: Seeing the incidents all around, some students do this to stay in trend.
- Normalising aggression: Exposure to violent media or abusive households can do it. American Psychological Association says children who witness domestic violence are 3x more likely to bully others.
So, punishing them without treating the cause will only worsen the cycle. Suspensions & penalties are important, but they don’t teach empathy or conflict resolution. Schools must understand why is this child hurting others? & then solve the root cause.
2. The Victim’s Experience: Who Can Get Bullied?
We agree that EVERY child (or even adult) can be bullied & victims have no share in blame. But it doesn’t erase the fact that certain groups are more prone to be targeted. Because, bullying involves power imbalance & bullies tend to target people they think they can get away with.
Following groups face higher risks due to societal biases.
- LGBTQ+ Youth: 52% report bullying vs. 22% of non-LGBTQ+ peers (GLSEN, 2021).
- Students with Disabilities: 35% experience bullying, often due to lack of inclusive policies.
- Racial/Ethnic Minorities: 28% of Black and Hispanic students face racial bullying.
Schools that ignore diversity training & inclusion practices create more prejudiced environments. When children grow seeing it everywhere, they feel that discrimination is acceptable.
3. The Bystander Effect: What Should We do When Witness Bullying?
Only 20% of bystanders intervene when they see bullying. Why? Fear of retaliation and distrust in adults play major roles. Fellow children think that they can also get in trouble if they try to stop or report it.
In a 2023 survey, 60% of students said teachers ignore bullying. They rationalise their inaction with: “It’s none of my business” or “Someone else will help.” This silence empowers bullies and isolates victims.
Schools must teach bystanders how to safely speak up & encourage them to be upstanders. Plus, rewarding upstanders with recognition or prices also shift school culture.
Impact of Bullying: What are the Possible Consequences?
The effects of bullying are not merely social inconveniences or schoolyard troubles. They are deep, long-lasting, and, in some cases, life-threatening.
1. The Lifelong Damage: Bullying’s Hidden Costs
Bullying and the trauma caused by it doesn’t end at graduation. It can ruin the futures with its long-lasting psychological effects.
| Impact on Victims | Impact on Bullies |
| – 3x higher risk of depression (CDC) | – 4x higher risk of criminal behaviour by age 24 |
| – 2x more likely to drop out | – Poor academic performance |
| – Chronic anxiety disorders | – Substance abuse issues |
In severe cases, some students drop out to get an escape. It not only damages their personality but also decline the country’s rate of education. (Failing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 4).
2. Economic Toll
Bullying isn’t just a “school problem”, but a public health and economic crisis.
For example, a child who drops out due to bullying cause the illiteracy & unemployment to rise. Similarly, bullies with untreated behavioural issues can enter the criminal justice system, costing taxpayers millions.
Taking a look at statistical figures:
- $1 trillion is lost globally yearly due to bullying-related healthcare, legal fees, and lost productivity (World Bank).
- Victims earn 7% less as adults due to lower confidence and missed education (National Bureau of Economic Research).
Schools must recognise that stopping bullying is essential for the survival of society.
Why Current Anti-Bullying Programs Fail to Control it?
Most schools use outdated strategies, like:
- Awareness Campaigns: Posters and assemblies raise awareness but don’t teach actionable skills.
- Punishment Over Prevention: Suspensions remove bullies temporarily but don’t address why they act out.
- Complex Reporting Systems: Requiring victims to report face-to-face deters 64% from speaking up.
Result: Only 30% of such programs are effective against bullying (National Academies of Sciences). Hence, we need more concrete steps to be prepared for the concern.
A Framework for Change: The SHIELD Approach
To fight bullying, we need a clear and structured approach. The SHIELD framework is a helpful way to think about the steps schools can take to create a safer environment for everyone.
| Component | Need for It | Key Actions | Impact |
| S – Support Systems | – Schools lack the infrastructure to protect vulnerable students – 65% teachers are not prepared for bullying prevention. | – Create peer support networks – Set up nonymous reporting tools – Train teachers in bullying prevention & de-escalation strategies | Reduces victim isolation by 40% (According to a 2023 study in Journal of School Health) Boosts the reporting of bullying by 50% |
| H – Healthy Environment | – Zero-tolerance policies harm the victims too and can lead to more violence | – Promote inclusivity for all social groups – Create safe spaces for students – Promote awareness among students | Lowers the bullying rates by 30% as per 2022 UNESCO report Improves student morale |
| I – Intervention Strategies | – Immediate response protocols prevent escalation -Restorative justice help bullies to face their actions | – Immediate reporting of incidents – Clear consequences for bullies – Restorative justice practices (like apology letters by bullies) | Notifying reduces physical harm by 45% Restorative justice cuts repeat offences by 60% (source: University of Pennsylvania) |
| E – Education | – Students need learn anger management and conflict resolution | – Anti-bullying workshops – Social-emotional learning (SEL) – Digital citizenship training | Reduces bullying by 25% according to CASEL 2023 report |
| L – Leadership Involvement | – Leaders who dismiss bullying as “drama” perpetuate the crisis | – Principals review policies quarterly – Engage parents – Allocate budgets for prevention | Schools with active leaders see 50% faster results (CDC) |
| D – Documentation | – Documented data helps schools in allocating resources & avoid repeating mistakes | – Track incidents in real time – Share transparent data | Improves strategies by 65% |
How Wihkum Fits Into the SHIELD Framework?
Our Wihkum app aligns with certain SHIELD components to stop bullying in schools. You can use it for:
- Support: Anonymous reporting in real-time.
- Intervention: SOS alerts trigger immediate responses.
- Leadership: Real-time data helps admins refine policies.
- Documentation: Incident tracking and trend analysis.
What to Do it If I am Being Bullied?
First of all, you need to understand that being bullied is not your fault.
Bullies have their own complex, personal reasons and your physical attributes or social belonging has nothing to do with it. You should also stop hoping for them to be better. Bullying is a behaviour, and people repeat it throughout their lives, if the causes aren’t solved.
Bullies target people whom they see as “easy victims. So, you need to prove that they are thinking wrong. How can you do it? By standing up strong & reporting it to the authorities.
This way you can show the bullies that you are not an easy target, & they can’t get away with it.
Don’t wait for the school authorities. Take action today. If you’re a student, parent, or teacher. Wihkum gives you the tools to prevent, report, and deal with bullying.