- A 16-year-old school student Sameer Maheswari has shared his experience of being bullied in school and later suffering from depression.
- Study says that exposure to bullying can lead to children developing depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts.
Bullying is something that many people experience in school or college. According to The Centers for Disease Control (CDC), students who experienced bullying are around 2 to 9 times more likely to consider suicide than non-victims.
Mindstar Health talked with a 16-year-old high school student Sameer Maheswari who experienced trauma, disrespect, and mental health problems due to severe bullying by his classmates. While sharing his story, Sameer shared that he got bullied for his overweight issues in elementary, middle, and even high school. “Due to thyroid, I was extremely overweight compared to my age and height. I got made fun of for being overweight,” he added.
Sameer shared how his bench partners used to call him a ‘sumo wrestler’. He said, “Once, a boy drew a sumo wrestler on the blackboard and labeled it with my name. My bench partners used to taunt me about my weight. A few of them even denied sharing a bench with me. It was extremely traumatic for me.”
Sameer shared his insecurities with Mindstar Health regarding his negative body image issues. He was depressed after being bullied for years. He completely lost his self-confidence and started doubting his capabilities. His mental condition badly affected his academic performance. After suffering from anxiety attacks, his parents took him to a child psychologist, and he gradually developed helpful coping skills.
Exposure to bullying during teenage or adolescence is associated with a higher risk of depressive symptoms and even suicidal behavior, an NCBI report says. According to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) experts, parents should talk to their children and encourage them to verbalize their feelings without any hesitation. Parents should let their children know to whom they can ask for help if they experience bullying in school.
*P.s – Names and places changed due to privacy concerns