Cyberbullying and mental health

Abstract

Cyberbullying is a serious public health problem that can have significant mental health effects on victims and perpetrators. Children and adolescents involved in cyberbullying have been shown to experience higher levels of depression and anxiety and even increased suicidal ideation compared with those who are not involved. Participation in cyberbullying can be associated with various risk factors and personality traits. Most large-scale interventions aimed at reducing the prevalence of cyberbullying have had limited levels of success. However, there are many strategies for parents, teachers, and clinicians to implement with children and adolescents to address cyberbullying and to openly discuss safe Internet use.