Report: Bullying should be considered a serious public health issue; schools should change policy

Bullying should be considered a serious public health issue, according to a new report from the National Academies of Sciences Engineering and Medicine.

Being bullied has obvious mental and emotional repercussions, including depression and anxiety. Physically, it can lead to gastrointestinal issues and headaches.

Bullies themselves are also negatively impacted by their own behavior. They are more likely to struggle with depression and move on to criminal activity like vandalism and theft.

Many schools have a zero-tolerance policy -- suspending or even expelling bullies.

The report says this policy does not work, and schools should help bullies change their behavior through continual education and positive feedback.

 

This will help them build emotional intelligence.