My Child Won’t Talk About Being Bullied: Now What?

Getting your child to speak up is the first step toward resolution.

When your child is being bullied at school or online by a classmate, you expect the school to take action and put a stop to it. Letting bullying go unaddressed can cause trauma to your child that manifests later in life or results in immediate feelings of anxiety or anger.

But when your child won’t speak up to a teacher or principal, what are your other options?

How to Help Your Kid Address Bullying at School

As the parent, you can help your child understand the need to talk about their situation with these tips:

• Listen to your child without judgment so they feel comfortable sharing more.
• Validate their feelings.
• Encourage them to think of how they’d like the situation to be handled.
• Learn more about the severity of the incident to determine if adult intervention is necessary.
• Discuss how you plan to involve the school and minimize retaliation against your child.
• Emphasize any safety risks so your child understands why you need to speak up.

Not talking about bullying to the school is not an option. School leaders are trained in dealing with bullying situations and can address the problem at the source.

When to Seek Professional Care

Bullying can leave a lasting emotional toll that may require professional intervention, especially if it goes unaddressed for a long time. Speaking up as soon as possible can help prevent emotional damage and mental distress.

At Hallmark Youthcare, our inpatient treatment center seeks to find and address the root cause of mental health disorders. We help bullies and those who have been bullied to overcome mental trauma so they can live full, productive adult lives. Contact us today and learn more.