Chenai F Dunduru and Dr Fahad Hanna
Content warning: this article contains discussions of suicide.
The relationship between cyberbullying and suicidality is a major public health issue that has captured the attention of researchers across the globe. In Australia, over half of all young people have experienced cyberbullying, which can profoundly impact developing minds. Teens often don’t report cyberbullying – allowing it to fester until it becomes unbearable.
Cyberbullying refers to the use of electronic communications to bully, harass and intimidate others, often through social media platforms and text messaging. Suicidality is a group of thoughts, ideation, or behaviours that relate to self-harm or suicide. We recently examined the relationship between cyberbullying and suicidality among adolescents, by analysing depression and suicidal ideation in adolescent groups from various regions of the world who have been victims of cyberbullying.
We reviewed four articles from India, Malaysia, China, and the Caribbean, Central and South America, respectively. The research across these countries offers insights relevant to Australia’s diverse population, which consists of many young migrants from Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) backgrounds.
The Indian study followed a group of adolescents experiencing cyberbullying, where mental health outcomes were assessed after three years. The Malaysian study sought to quantify the association between cyberbullying and suicidality. The Chinese study focused on traditional bullying and cyberbullying, while the South and Central American study specifically delved into the impact of cyberbullying on suicidal ideation.
A global issue with local relevance
Despite the differences between the methods of each study in our review, they all focused on the relationship between cyberbullying victimisation and depression and suicidal ideation among adolescents.
And alarmingly, they all showed a strong association between cyberbullying victimisation and depression and suicide.
The results of these studies fit with the existing evidence. In Australia, cyberbullying is the cause of at least three suicides per week in young people. Multiple other studies show that adolescents who are cyberbullied have high risk factors for mental distress including depression, suicidal ideation, and self-harm.
Our review highlights the urgency of this issue and the need for further research into adolescent experiences of cyberbullying and suicidality. It is important to understand the unique experiences of all adolescents over time, particularly considering the evolving challenges faced by CALD adolescents in Australia. This is crucial for tailoring effective interventions to mental distress and cyberbullying.
Tailored interventions
These studies have useful implications for future practice. The findings can aid policymakers on the importance of early interventions in current mental health policy and developing integrative multi-level approaches that support mental health and anti-bullying efforts at the school level. Furthermore, there should be an emphasis on educating adolescents about safe internet use, and how to seek support if they experience cyberbullying.
In South and Central America, the prevalence of cyberbullying victimisation is notably high, affecting 20 percent of adolescents. Given the association between victimisation and suicidal thoughts, this study advocates for evidence-based programs to address cyberbullying and highlights protective factors such as parental and peer support. It recommends gender-specific initiatives and awareness programs to empower adolescents in managing cyberbullying experiences.
In China, gender differences play a crucial role, where girls more often experience suicidal ideation because of relational and cyberbullying victimisation.* Hence, there is a need for evidence-based and gender-specific cyberbullying interventions across the board.
Our review underscores the importance of safeguarding adolescent mental health, with a focus on tailored, culturally sensitive interventions, inclusive educational strategies, protective support networks, and comprehensive awareness programs about cyberbullying. Given Australia’s multicultural landscape, our review of four international studies may offer insight into the impacts of cyberbullying on CALD adolescents in Australia.
The findings collectively contribute to the growing body of research highlighting the relationships between cyberbullying victimisation, mental health, and the need for targeted interventions. To address the effects of cyberbullying, policymakers must take a comprehensive, culturally competent approach that recognises diversity.
*There was no gender difference in the effect of traditional bullying on suicidal ideation in this study.
If this article has raised issues for you or your child, you can call the following helplines:
- Lifeline on 13 11 14
- Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800
- Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636
- Headspace on 1800 650 890
- Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467
- MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978
Chenai F Dunduru is a Master of Public Health student, and Dr Fahad Hanna is Associate Professor, both based in the Department of Health Sciences at Torrens University Australia.
Image credit: Gilles Lambert, Unsplash
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