Our Insight
Tragic Case of 11-Year-Old in Banyuwangi Sparks Urgent Call to Address School Bullying
Social media was shocked by the news of a 4th grade elementary school student who died. The 11-year-old student with the initials MR from Banyuwangi, East Java, allegedly ended his life because he experienced bullying from his friends who said he was an orphan. This case caught the attention of Uswatun Hasanah, Lecturer in Mental Nursing at the Faculty of Health Sciences, UM Surabaya, to provide a response.
According to him, bullying is an unwanted aggressive act, which is carried out intentionally and repeatedly to make someone feel intimidated or helpless. “This behavior is common among children and involves an imbalance of power,” he said. Uswatun explained that bullying is harmful to children, as it can interfere with their social development. All forms of bullying have a negative impact on physical and mental health.
Uswatun emphasized that victims of bullying can lose self-confidence, feel worthless, and experience lasting disruptions to their self-concept. Children who are frequently bullied tend to experience anxiety, depressive problems, and suicidal thoughts. In addition, the academic aspect of the victim may also suffer, such as decreased performance and refusal to attend school.
Socially, victims of bullying may feel embarrassed to interact with others, which may cause them to withdraw from social settings. Physical impacts can also occur, especially if bullying is accompanied by physical violence, which can result in injuries and even death.
Uswatun reminded that bullying not only affects the victim, but also the perpetrator. Children who bully have a greater risk of engaging in violent behavior and usually avoid responsibility for their actions. She added that there are many consequences of bullying, and all parties, including parents and the government, need to play an active role in preventing and addressing bullying cases.
