Child bullies and victims more likely to consider suicide

Children who have experienced long-term bullying are six times more likely to have suicidal thoughts than those who have never experienced bullying, new research has shown.

By the age of 11, children who were both bullies and victims were three times more likely to have self-harmed or considered suicide. “Pure bullies” were also more likely to experience suicidal thoughts which could not be explained by pre-existing conditions or family circumstances.

Around 5% of the pre-adolescent youth surveyed in the study reported suicidal thoughts.