Bullying and cyberbullying can have profound and lasting consequences for the mental, physical and emotional health of children and adolescents. One in four adolescents between 13 and 17 years of age in Latin America and the Caribbean report having experienced school bullying, a form of violence that can affect health throughout life.
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) presented a new guide to prevent and respond to bullying and cyberbullying, aimed at governments, schools, health services, families, communities and digital platforms. PAHO data shows differences within the region: around 23% of students in Central America have experienced bullying, compared to 25% in the Caribbean and approximately 30% in South America.
Bullying takes diverse forms such as hitting, insults, exclusion, rumours or sexual conduct. However, the expansion of digital technologies has added a new dimension to the problem, allowing violence to follow children and adolescents home at any hour. In some countries in the Americas, between approximately 7% and 27% of minors report having experienced cyberbullying in the previous 12 months, with higher percentages among girls.
Unlike face-to-face bullying, cyberbullying can occur from a distance, reach millions of people in seconds and persist through the repeated circulation of images or messages. Exposure to these forms of violence is associated with depression, anxiety, traumatic stress, social isolation, sleep disorders, self-harm and suicidal thoughts, as well as effects on educational trajectory.
PAHO warns that sudden changes in behaviour, lack of energy, refusal to attend school, isolation, persistent anxiety and sleep problems may indicate that a minor is a victim of bullying. In cyberbullying situations, becoming distressed when receiving notifications, abrupt behavioural changes after using devices and suddenly abandoning online accounts are warning signs.
Britta Baer, PAHO regional adviser on violence prevention and co-author of the guide, noted that "bullying can be prevented and we have evidence on what works". The most effective programmes are comprehensive and sustained and involve students, families, teachers, health services and communities, incorporating socio-emotional skills such as empathy, emotion regulation and conflict resolution.
In the digital environment, PAHO additionally recommends digital literacy, internet safety, knowledge of how to report cases and creation of clear rules of online behaviour. Schools should incorporate issues such as privacy, consent and digital citizenship into teaching.