The Impact of Bullying on Children
October is National Bullying Prevention Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about the impact of bullying and promoting safe, supportive environments for children and teens. In today’s world, 1 in 5 children experience bullying, either online or in person. As one of the most frequently reported disciplinary issues in schools, bullying includes behaviors such as being the subject of rumors or lies, being made fun of, name-calling, insults, threats, physical harm, and social exclusion.
Bullying is defined by deliberate and persistent behavior aimed at asserting power over others. It is categorized as an Adverse Childhood Experience—a potentially traumatic event that can have long-lasting effects on a child’s development.
Unfortunately, bullying is often dismissed as a childhood rite of passage. Many children feel reluctant to tell adults due to embarrassment or fear, which is why recognizing early signs is essential to preventing long-term consequences. Others who may have poor awareness, cognitive limitations or other conditions, may have difficulties recognizing or labeling bullying, therefore these children depend on others to recognize the signs.
Signs of Bullying Parents Should be Aware Of:
- Declining grades, loss of interest in schoolwork, or not wanting to go to school
- Sudden loss of friends or avoidance of social situations
- Difficulty sleeping or frequent nightmares
- Self-destructive behaviors such as running away, self-harm, or suicidal thoughts
- Planning revenge or retaliation against others
Bullying can impair cognitive, emotional, social, and physical development, and increase the risk of health issues such as depression, anxiety, sleep disturbances, and substance abuse.
What Can Caregivers Do?
Caregivers who notice, recognize and acknowledge the impact of bullying will often be the first step. Peers may also notice and bring this to an adult’s attention. Open communication and creating an environment where children feel safe expressing their emotions helps build resilience and emotional well-being. Caregivers should also initiate conversations with teachers to discuss any concerns about a child’s behavior or well-being. Similarly, parents should ask the school for their policies and regulations pertaining to bullying.
Addressing bullying requires teamwork between caregivers, educators, and health care professionals. Child psychologists and school counselors can offer tailored interventions to support a child’s mental and emotional health. Parents, educators and health care professionals should also be curious and learn from current social media trends and activities that may lead to bullying.
Importance of Children's Hospitals
Children’s hospitals play a vital role in delivering specialized care that meets the unique physical and emotional needs of young patients, helping them heal, grow, and thrive. At Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital, our child and adolescent psychology care teams offer compassionate support through tailored resources and therapeutic strategies that help children and families navigate emotional and behavioral challenges. These services are fully integrated into each patient’s unique treatment plan, whether inpatient or outpatient, ensuring holistic care throughout their journey. We also proudly partner with The Guidance Center, a Long Beach-based community organization that provides comprehensive mental health treatment to underserved children and their families.
About Dr. Ioana Pal
Ioana Pal, Psy.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist at Stramski Children’s Development Center at Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital (MCWH) in Long Beach, CA who specializes in psychological, developmental, and neuropsychological assessments. Her clinical interests include dual diagnosis, forensic psychology, personality disorders, mind-body connection, motivational interviewing, mindfulness and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) with children, adolescents, and adolescent young adults (AYA).
She holds master’s degrees in mental health counseling and forensic sciences and received her doctorate degree in clinical psychology with a concentration in forensic psychology from the American School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University. She completed her post-doctoral fellowship training at the Orangewood Children & Family Center (OCFC), County of Orange Health Care Agency.
In addition to her clinical work she serves as a board member of the Stramski Advisory Board, Fragile X Association of Southern California (FRAXSOCAL), Learning Disabilities Association of America - CA Chapter (LDA of California), California Psychological Association (CPA) and Orange County Psychological Association (OCPA).
Dr. Pal enjoys providing trainings and presentations to residents, faculty and community champions of Long Beach. She provides supervision to pre-doctoral psychology students from The Guidance Center and other higher education institutions, and works with other Long Beach agencies to connect children, adolescents and their families to the right services and therapies. She actively seeks to learn about available services, trainings and networking opportunities in Long Beach and surrounding areas. In her free time, Dr. Pal enjoys the company of friends and family, hiking with her dog, painting, yoga and Disneyland.
