the link between
Bullying and Depression in Teens

The emotional impact of bullying in teens can make them highly insecure – they might feel constantly on guard, alone, and ashamed. This impact can seriously affect a teenager’s emotional and physical health and even lead to mental health conditions such as depression if the issue isn’t managed.^3,13

If you’re concerned that a teenager is being bullied and it’s taking a toll on their mental health, there are steps you can take to make them feel more supported, including:

Talking to Them:

A teen might not be willing to talk about how they’re being bullied, but you can let them know you’re there for them if they want to share. You could bring the topic up in indirect ways, such as by saying, “I’ve been hearing a lot about cyberbullying recently. Have you ever witnessed it?” Or, you could ask them more directly by saying “You seem upset lately. Has something been going on at school? I’m here for you if you want to talk.”

Contacting the School:

If a teenager is experiencing bullying at school, it might be important to make teachers and counselors aware of it. Schools have a legal responsibility to safeguard a teen, but, more so, they will likely want to. Calmly explain what you think might be happening, ask whether a teacher has noticed any withdrawal, and work to problem-solve the issue. 

Making the Family Environment a Support System: 

Support from family can help protect a teenager from the mental health effects of bullying. Plus, if a teenager has a difficult home environment, this could contribute to bullying’s negative effects on their mental health.  

If you suspect a teenager is being bullied, you could help make the family environment a support system by:

• Listening to them 

• Curiously asking gentle questions
• Having fun with them, for example, cooking a meal they like together, or watching their favorite movie
• Encouraging them to invite friends over to the house
• Trying not to “fix” their problems and instead aiming to problem-solve together
• Letting them know you’re there for them, unconditionally

Encouraging Friendships: 

A sense of belonging can boost self-confidence and esteem. Yet a teenager who is being bullied might feel isolated from friend groups, which can lead to low self-worth and feelings of depression. You could encourage friendships and time spent with others by:

• Motivating them to reach out to friends they trust

• Prompting them to join new social groups, perhaps through community organizations or extracurricular activities
• Inspiring them to try new hobbies or interests – meeting people with similar interests often widens social groups

Limiting Social Media Use:

Totally eliminating social media from a teenager’s life could contribute to feelings of isolation and cause distress. However, if a teenager is experiencing cyberbullying, spending a lot of time on social media could be highly damaging to their mental health. If this is the case for someone you know, you can still allow social media use – but with boundaries. 

Quality time on social media over quantity could prevent a teen from focusing on negative comments and encourage them to engage in positive online activities. You could encourage positive social media use by:

• Aiming for daily social-media-free hours, such as during “family time” 

• Removing access to phones before bed so social media can’t affect the quality of sleep
• Promoting community and interest pages instead of mindless scrolling
• Modelling healthy phone use to set a good example

Seeking Professional Mental Health Support:

Bullying can seriously affect a teenager’s well-being in both physical and emotional ways. A teenager may feel alone, hurt, ashamed, to blame – or very angry. Finding healthy outlets for these emotions can help process them in ways that limit damage to mental health and future prospects. A mental health professional can help a teenager regain a sense of control, process negative emotions, and form positive self-beliefs.