Bullying in South African schools is being linked to a growing mental health crisis among youth.
The 1000 Women Trust says bullying is a leading cause of anxiety, depression and even suicidal thoughts among learners.
The organization issued the warning as the country marks Stress Awareness Month, which highlights the daily pressures faced by young people.
Learners suffer in silence as under-reporting remains a challenge
Program manager Bianca Charles says many cases go unreported, leaving learners afraid nothing will change.
She says that many children are suffering silently.
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“They fear that nothing will change or that they will be further ridiculed or targeted. So we focus on building trust. So, our programs teach kids how to recognize bullying and then how to safely report it. And most importantly, their voices matter.
“We also train teachers on how to respond quickly and consistently so learners can see that speaking up leads to real action. By normalizing these types of conversations about bullying, we're really breaking that silence to reduce stigma.”
Call for survivor-focused anti-bullying policies in schools
The organization believes the solution lies in changing the response of schools to put the needs of victims at the center.
“A survivor-centred anti-bullying policy or approach means that you are putting the needs and voices of the child who has been bullied at the center of the response.
“So, in practice, this means that schools must have a clear reporting mechanism. First, they also need to protect the dignity of the learner who has been bullied and then ensure that some kind of post-trauma counseling or mental health support is available to that child.”
Through its national programmes, the Trust is equipping schools with practical tools to identify bullying early and respond in ways that prioritize treatment rather than mere punishment.
Also read: KZN parents urged to help stop school bullying
It said there are already signs of progress, with attendance improving in some schools since the intervention began and learners having increased confidence in speaking up.
The organization is now urging governments and communities to treat bullying prevention as part of broader efforts to address youth suicide and gender-based violence.
Parents and teachers are also being encouraged to play a more active role by having open conversations with children and recognizing early warning signs.
Charles said bullying is not harmless; This is a public health issue, and if we don't act now, we risk losing more young people to something that is entirely preventable.
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