Impacts on Victims
Violence against children can affect their developing brains and can result in long-term physical and mental effects. Image: Bullying impacts the brain. Authored by: Geralt. Source: https://pixabay.com/en/bullying-stress-head-brain-think-2778163/. License: CC-0
Like all other types of violence, including workplace violence discussed earlier in this module, youth violence causes both physical and mental health issues. In addition to needing to treat physical injuries, many kids also have mental health issues, which can lead to anxiety, PTSD, and suicide. Bullying, which is one of the most common forms of school violence, can be extremely devastating for kids, causing social isolation, depression, anxiety, and even suicide. Children are at increased risk of being bullied if they have poor peer relationships, low self-esteem, or are perceived as different by their peers (CDC, 2016).
Unlike other types of victimization, school violence also affects the learning environment and can dramatically affect educational outcomes. When students do not feel safe, they are not as engaged in the learning process. They are also more likely to skip school or avoid certain classes where they feel threatened, increasing their potential to either drop out or fail at school.
Victims of bullying often feel fear, shame, and guilt over their victimization. In addition, they might not have any idea why someone would target them as a victim. This can cause a host of emotional problems, as well as lead to kids not engaging at school. Image: Schoolyard bully. Author: Thomas Ricker. Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/trixer/3531445744. License: CC-BY 2.0