Have you ever been messaged on the internet with cruel comments or been harassed online for the way you act or look? This is called cyberbullying. One of the earliest cases of cyberbullying was the Megan Mier case. Megan took her own life following being cyberbullied by an adult neighbor posing as a fictitious boy on MySpace. Megan’s case was just one example of how adolescents are facing higher levels of stress and depression because of cyberbullying. To decrease these negative outcomes, adolescents can be open to the idea of therapy.
Adolescents are facing higher levels of suicide because of cyberbullying. According to the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 14.9 percent of adolescents have been cyberbullied, and 13.6 percent of adolescents have made a serious suicide attempt. According to BMC Psychiatry, adolescents who are cyberbullied are almost two times more likely to consider attempting suicide compared to those who are not cyberbullied. We can reduce this number by encouraging cyberbullying victims to go to therapy and ask a parent or a trusted adult for help.
According to Werywellhealth, If adolescents who are cyberbullied go to therapy, they might experience reduced pain, better sleep, improved communication, less stress, and increased happiness. The National Crime Prevention Council also noted that parents should teach their children when getting cyberbullying to not respond to the cyberbully, try not to get revenge on the cyberbully even if they have ruined their image as a person, and report the cyberbully to parents, teachers, and trusted adults. This might help victims feel more of a sense of control. In conclusion, asking parents and trusted adults for help and going to therapy when being cyberbullied leads to better outcomes.
If you have experienced cyberbullying, instead of just holding in your feelings, ask for help. Take a break from the situation, do something that makes you feel better so you can calm down, and consider getting support from a therapist.
