Bullying and hazing are sadly predominant activities that typically occur at schools and colleges. Students who may have joined the first year of college or courses at some point go through episodes that leave a lasting effect on their mental health. Many are victims of constant abuse in forms where they may be asked to perform embarrassing activities, forced to consume alcohol or drugs, or may even be pushed into sexual activities.
Many such college kids and students find themselves grappling with anxiety, depression, and mental trauma that affect their minds, education, and lifestyle at a young and tender age.
Discomfort in social gatherings
Students who repeatedly go through torture and bullying tend to develop feelings of fear, worry, and pressure. It can further go on to cause long-term effects like leading to develop a fear of social gatherings. A kid must be out in the open, talking and learning. Hence, to help solve this, it is crucial to take professional help through counseling sessions.
Interactive Counseling in Kelowna offers sessions dedicated to child and teenage mental well-being. If you feel that your child may be going through something similar or has shared incidents that indicate bullying, the first step is to reach out for help and start to read more on ways to help the child cope with the trauma.
Depression and anxiety
It is natural for children to feel lost, unfocused and scared when they are targets of bullying. When not taken care of, these can turn into long-term conditions like depression or anxiety. It is known that such mental health conditions can come in the way of leading a quality life and can cause far more detrimental effects both on the mind and body.
Loneliness, fear, worries and stress continue to bother the mind and can cause adverse and long-term effects. Insomnia, social fear, loss of appetite, overthinking, eating disorders and even change in behavior can occur. If your child shows such signs, do not ignore or mistake them for a lack in their focus or conduct.
Strains important interpersonal relationships
Anxious or depressed for a while, students tend to face difficulties maintaining interpersonal relationships with parents, siblings or friends if they have been bullied or continue being catcalled. It becomes so important to identify and seek help for your child to avoid tarnishing their relationships further.
Again, if you notice your child acting distant or spot alarming differences in their behavior, support them and help them fight the situation with courage and a belief that they can come out of it.
Step forward and complain, take preventive measures, and most importantly, speak to concerned personnel at their college to make them aware of the wrongdoings. Or on the other hand, if your child’s teachers reach out with recommendations to counsel your child, get deeper into what the situation demands, and seek professional help to manage this efficiently.
Low self-esteem and confidence
Children who are constant targets of bullying and hazing among their peers develop a sense of low self-esteem and confidence. They often feel unworthy and usually get to self-blaming and harm. These foundation and growth years pave the way for their future performance.
A child with low self-esteem may often find it difficult to perform academically well and carry the fear and low self-esteem as they grow into adults.
Abusive or irrational behavior
The trauma and disturbance caused by bullying and hazing are tremendous, and if not identified in time and left untreated, they can turn to rebellious and abusive behavior.
A child or a young adult who has been bullied through their adolescence often tends to become exactly like their bullies. Violent behavior or abusive behavior is often a sign of someone who has unresolved trauma from situations that have been ignored or never spoken of.