Treatment Center and Hospital for Victims of Bullying in Las Vegas

Learn More About Bullying

Bullying is unwanted, aggressive behavior that involves an imbalance of power between the bully and the victim. Children and teens who are bullied can develop serious, lasting problems due to the trauma they experience. In order to be considered bullying, the language or behavior must be aggressive, intentional, and repeated, not merely a one-time instance of conflict among peers.

Young people who bully use their power, which may include physical strength, social prowess, or the misuse of technology to embarrass, belittle, humiliate, and gain control over others. Bullying behaviors can take many forms, including as making threats, spreading rumors, attacking someone physically or verbally, purposefully excluding someone from the group, or using social media or a cell phone to spread rumors or private information.

There following are the four main types of bullying:

Verbal bullying:

• Teasing
• Name-calling
• Taunting
• Inappropriate sexual comments
• Threatening to cause harm

Social bullying:

• Leaving someone out on purpose
• Spreading rumors about someone
• Telling others not to be friends with someone
• Embarrassing someone in public

Physical bullying:

• Spitting
• Hitting, kicking, or punching
• Taking or breaking someone’s belongings
• Tripping and pushing
• Making mean or rude hand gestures

Cyberbullying:

• Sending harassing messages through email
• Posting embarrassing photos or video of someone online
• Texting peers with hurtful slurs or private information
• Posting insults on social media sites

No matter which form, bullying can cause the victim to feel upset, afraid, ashamed, and anxious about going to school. Bullying can involve children of any age and can exist in many different environments. It is important to note that children can be mean to each other as they refine their social skills and grow into adults. While these interactions can be unpleasant, there is a fine line between childhood conflict and bullying.

It is important to note that children can be cruel to each other as they refine their social skills and grow into adulthood. While these interactions can be unpleasant, there is a definite distinction between developmentally appropriate childhood conflict and bullying. However, if your child has been the victim of bullying, know that Seven Hills Hospital is here to help.

At our treatment center located in Las Vegas, Nevada, Seven Hills Hospital offer comprehensive treatment that addresses the damaging impact that bullying can have on a young person’s mental, emotional, and physical health. With the proper care, your child can overcome the effects of bullying, and any mental health conditions that may have manifested or worsened as a result.

Statistics on Bullying

According to the website Stop Bullying Now, a recent study with a large sample found that about 49% of children in grades 4–12 reported being bullied by other students at the school at least once during the past month. That statistic sheds light on the widespread presence of bullying in our country’s schools, and signals the need for additional preventative efforts and supports to stop this tragic trend from increasing.

Signs and Symptoms of Bullying

There are a variety of warning signs that indicate that someone is being affected by bullying. By recognizing these signs, you can help in taking action against bullying when you see it occur or suspect it is happening. Sadly, many children who are bullied do not reach out for help, so it is important to let the children in your life know that you are a safe person to talk to if they are ever being hurt.

Like others who have been exposed to trauma, victims of bullying will face a host of damages to their health and wellbeing that may worsen over time. Therefore, it’s crucial to connect a victim with support as soon as you sense that bullying may be happening, and some signs that bullying is occurring include:

• Unexplainable injuries
• Lost or destroyed clothing or belongings
• Frequent physical problems or faking illness
• Changes in eating habits, such as skipping meals or coming home hungry because they didn’t have lunch
• Difficulty sleeping or having frequent nightmares
• Declining grades
• Not wanting to go to school
• Sudden loss of friends or avoidance of social situations
• Decreased self-esteem
• Self-destructive behaviors
• Suicidal ideation

Signs that a child may be bullying others:

• Gets into frequent physical or verbal fights
• Have friends who bully others
• Have unexplained extra money or new belongings
• Increasingly aggressive
• Gets sent to principal’s office or detention often
• Blames others for his or her problems
• Don’t accept responsibility for his or her actions
• Are overly competitive
• Worry about their reputation or popularity

Effects of Bullying

The effects of bullying not only affect the victim but the bully as well. Children and adolescents who have been bullied are more likely to suffer from the following:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Eating disorders
• Thoughts of suicide
• Health issues, like headaches
• Sleeping problems
• Bed-wetting
• Fatigue
• Academic issues including poor attendance, low test scores, and increased dropout rates

Youth who bullies are at a greater risk for:

• Smoking tobacco and drinking alcohol
• Poor performance in school
• Involvement in criminal activity
• Development of psychiatric disorders

Helping Someone Who is Being Bullied

Professionals suggest that if you suspect that your child is being bullied, then you need to take the situation seriously and encourage him or her to talk about his or her experiences. It is important to remain calm, supportive, and reassuring as this can go a long way in helping the victim of bullying feel comfortable talking about it. Try to gain details about the circumstances surrounding the bullying, and teach your child how to assertively respond to the bully without getting upset or becoming aggressive. Additionally, it is recommended that you contact the school directly to see what is being done about alleviating the bullying, to inquire about preventative education, and to discuss the need for school-wide bullying or anti-harassment policies.

Children who have been victims of bullying may benefit from participating in activities that increase their confidence and self-esteem. Therefore, your child may benefit from engaging in organized sports or other extracurricular activities that can help him or her build friendships and improve social skills.

If your child is suffering from severe emotional distress due to bullying that is interfering with his or her ability to function, then professional help may be necessary. The inpatient treatment center at Seven Hills Hospital is for children who are struggling with the emotional effects of bullying, and who need compassionate, professional care to address the impact that bullying has had on their lives.

The mental health professionals at our treatment center can work with your child to learn about ways to relax and self-soothe in times of stress, to reduce feelings of hopelessness, and to treat any existing mental health disorders, such as depression, that may have developed as a result of the bullying. At Seven Hills Hospital, we provide long-term treatment plans designed to improve self-esteem and building confidence, lower levels of depression and/or anxiety, and to help children learn the skills needed to be able to return to home and school with a brighter outlook.

To learn more about treatment at our Las Vegas, Nevada hospital, we encourage you to reach out to our admissions department at your earliest convenience. Our treatment center staff is available to answer any questions you may have about the ways our treatment addresses the effects of bullying, and to provide additional information about our services.