Child psychologist calls for early intervention in bullying cases

Teddy Bear Foundation clinical director, Dr. Shaheda Omar, says schools must move beyond punitive approaches to effectively address bullying among learners.

This follows the death of a Grade 6 learner from Pholosho Primary School in Alexandra, who took her own life after allegedly consuming poison.

According to the family, the child left a letter stating that bullying by classmates contributed to the death, and also apologised for her actions.

Omar says addressing bullying requires collective and sustained responses from schools, families, communities, and government.

She adds that schools should prioritise safe, child-centered environments where respect, empathy and emotional wellbeing are central.

“This includes implementing clear anti-bullying policies, and reporting mechanisms, providing regular mental health and emotional awareness programmes, training educators, and supporting-staff to identify warning signs of distress, trauma, and bullying. So it’s recognising, responding, and reporting, that is very important,” said Omar.

She says educators should also encourage peer support programmes where learners feel connected and comfortable.

Guardians and caregivers, she adds, must also play an active role in ensuring children feel safe to voice grievances without fear of being chastised or criticised.

Omar has called for kindness, sensitivity, and accountability, saying communities must be at the forefront of addressing bullying.

She warns that bullying is increasingly pervasive, relentless and psychologically damaging to children.

“Children are no longer only exposed to bullying within the school environment. Many of them are now subjected to humiliation through social media, group chats, and online platforms, which follow them into their homes into their personal space leaving them with little emotional refuge or safety. Many children who experience bullying are already facing underlying vulnerabilities like poverty, family instability, domestic violence exposure, neglect, or overwhelming academic pressure, etc.” Omar added.

Omar says these factors often leave children feeling trapped and hopeless, adding that psychologists are seeing a growing number of children experiencing severe emotional distress linked to bullying and other intersecting challenges.

“We are increasingly seeing children carrying emotional burdens at very young ages. Bullying is often not an isolated issue. It intersects with broader societal issues like violence, neglect, or substance abuse, among other things,” she said.

Omar also emphasised that every child deserves safety, dignity and emotional support, adding that early intervention and prevention programmes are vital in protecting vulnerable children.

Written by: Odirle Rabalao