NYPCC Calls for Urgent Action to Address the Widespread Mental Health Crisis Ignited by Bullying’s Ripple Effect
NEW YORK, NY – (May 20, 2025) – We often think of bullying as something only our youth have to endure, while others are immune to the problem. Most people don’t realize that bullying has a ripple effect and ends up impacting everyone. John Muir once said, “When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.” The issue of bullying is much the same because so much of it is connected, which is why addressing the situation is crucial to having a healthy-minded society.
“We know enough about bullying to know that society as a whole is victimized by it, not just the person being bullied,” said Dr.Jonathan Keigher, Vice President and Chief Clinical and Compliance Officer at NYPCC. “This is an issue that we must address as a community since it is linked and impacts everyone.”
Bullying is a web of connections that all impact one another. The bully is bullying because of the issues they are suffering from, and then the person bullied will be psychologically affected and carry that on to impact others. Even bystanders who see bullying take place are psychologically impacted. Each of these people, who may be juveniles at the time, may grow up to carry those psychological issues into the workplace, their families, communities, city streets, etc.
The psychological implications of bullying are far-reaching, according to NYPCC, including depression, loneliness, anxiety, changes in sleeping and eating patterns, and a loss of interest in activities that the person once enjoyed. Bullying leads to severe psychological stress. According to a study published in the journal Translational Pediatrics reports that bullying leads to severe psychological distress, including anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation among victims. They report that the mental health impact of bullying is profound, affecting not only victims but also bullies and bystanders. This leads to short and long-term consequences, which include anxiety, depression, substance abuse, and suicidal behaviors.
While we may not realize it, bullying can even impact something like oral health, which is connected to psychological well-being as well. A study published in the journal BMC Public Health reports that those who experience school bullying have a significantly higher risk of subsequently poor oral health-related quality of life. Poor oral health often leads people to have lower self-esteem, interact less socially, and have a negative impact on their overall quality of life.
Those who do the bullying, according to NYPCC, often end up getting into more fights, committing more vandalism, engaging in earlier sexual activity, and getting more traffic citations as adults. They also may go on to be abusive toward their romantic partner, spouse, children, and coworkers.
Communities must take on the issue of bullying and address it since it impacts everyone on some level. Those being bullied should be taught to speak out about it and get help addressing the situation. Bullies also need psychological help to address why they are bullying and overcome those behaviors. Whether someone is bullied, they are the bully, or they witness bullying, it can be helpful to get psychological counseling to help work through the situation to minimize the lasting impact. Counseling services play an essential role in addressing the issue of bullying and all the psychological effects that it leaves behind.
“We have helped countless people work through issues that stem from bullying,” said Elliott Klein, the Chief Executive Officer at NYPCC. “The sooner the issue is addressed, the better off everyone will likely be. Bullying is an issue that impacts the mental health of society as a whole, and we need to work together to address it in an impactful way.”
NYPCC was started in 1974 with one small office. Today, it has a network of locations in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens and serves over 25,000 people annually. It provides mental health care to children and families, most of whom come from underserved demographics. They routinely help clients who have been involved in bullying, as well as address the mental health issues that have resulted from bullying involvement. To get more information about NYPCC, visit the site
About NYPCC
New York Psychotherapy and Counseling Center (NYPCC) is a non-profit, community-oriented mental health organization licensed by the New York State Office of Mental Health. Providing exceptional services to children, adolescents, and adults throughout the NYC area, NYPCC is committed to improving the quality of mental healthcare services. From hiring bilingual, multicultural staff to staying open 7 days a week and conducting ongoing community outreach efforts, NYPCC strives to ensure everyone has access to the best mental health care. They can be followed on their social media pages on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, TikTok, and YouTube. To get more information, visit the site
Source:
BMC Public Health. The sequential association between school bullying and oral health-related quality of life. May 2025.
Translational Pediatrics. School bullying and mental health among adolescents. March 2025.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
