Review Article
Year: 2019 | Month: September | Volume: 9 | Issue: 9 | Pages: 224-233
Bullying Behavior among Children and Adolescents: The Psychiatric-Mental Health Perspective
Chisom Joy Mbadugha, Ngozi Joy Omotola, Nonye Anne Chukwujama
Lecturer, Department of Nursing, University of Nigeria Enugu campus, Enugu state, Nigeria
Corresponding Author: Chisom Joy Mbadugha
ABSTRACT
Bullying is a permissive behavior constituting a formidable public health challenge globally. Estimated 30-50% occurrence rate is reported among children and adolescents in Nigerian schools. Bullying behaviour adversely affects all involved including the victims, perpetrators and observers with more futuristic consequences in children and adolescents manifesting as suicide, depression, anxiety, psychiatric disorders, risky behaviour, low self esteem, personality and other psychiatric disorders. Only a few people who have been exposed to bullying escape these consequences due to their positive coping skills, resilience and social support. Prevention is therefore an effective means of eradicating bullying in the society and Psychiatric-Mental health nurses as frontline health care professionals play a crucial role in managing disruptive behaviours such as bullying. They are positioned to identify bullies and-or victims through physical and psychosocial assessment; plan and implement effective interventions such as advocacy, counseling, psycho-education, active screening and motivational interviews. This review discussed the concept of bullying, prevalence, mental health consequences and role of the psychiatric-mental health nurse in preventing bullying.
Key words: Bullying Behaviour, Children, Adolescents, Psychiatric-Mental health, Nursing