Dish of the Day

Prof. Dr. Koray Karabekiroğlu, faculty member in the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at the Faculty of Medicine of Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU), stated that peer bullying is a significant issue in today’s education environment that must be addressed with seriousness.

Emphasizing that bullying is a situation that can improve with proper family intervention, Prof. Dr. Karabekiroğlu said, “Bullying is often dismissed with the phrase ‘These things happen in childhood,’ yet it can leave lasting effects on children’s development. The most critical step in combating bullying is awareness. Not every conflict is bullying. For a behavior to be considered bullying, three fundamental elements must be present together: intent, repetition, and a power imbalance. The behavior must involve a deliberate intent to harm, be repetitive in nature, and occur within a context where there is a physical or social power inequality between the parties.”

“Bullying is not only physical”

Stating that bullying is not limited to physical forms, Prof. Dr. Koray Karabekiroğlu noted, “There are also verbal forms such as name-calling and mocking, relational forms such as exclusion and spreading rumors, and cyberbullying carried out through technological tools. Relational bullying is observed more frequently among girls, while physical bullying is more common among boys. Children often do not report what they experience due to fear or concern about being labeled as informants. For this reason, parents must remain attentive. Damaged clothing, unexplained bruises, reluctance to attend school, psychosomatic complaints, withdrawal, sleep problems, sudden declines in academic performance, and avoidance of school transportation are important warning signs.”

“Reactive attitudes make it harder for children to share”

Prof. Dr. Karabekiroğlu stressed that the first rule upon learning that a child is being bullied is to remain calm. “A judgmental or overly reactive attitude makes it more difficult for the child to share. The message should be: ‘Thank you for telling me this; it is not your fault.’ Statements that encourage violence must be avoided. Children should be supported in saying ‘No, stop,’ removing themselves from the situation, and seeking help from a trusted adult. Rather than directly confronting the bullying student or their family, cooperation should be established with school administration and guidance counselors. If the child is engaging in bullying behavior, it must be clearly stated that the behavior is unacceptable; the behavior, not the child’s personality, should be criticized. Empathy should be developed, and physical punishment must never be used. Many children who bully have low empathy skills, are impulsive, and struggle with anger control. Physical punishment within the family, neglect, or overly authoritarian attitudes are risk factors,” he said.

“Cyberbullying is a form of bullying that can continue 24/7”

Emphasizing that bullying is not merely a simple issue between two children, Prof. Dr. Karabekiroğlu added, “Schools must adopt a whole-school approach and clearly communicate the message that bullying is not tolerated in our school. Schools are legally obligated to ensure the safety of students; if necessary precautions are not taken, administrative and legal processes may arise. Cyberbullying is a form of bullying that can continue 24/7 and can be more destructive due to anonymity. The essential point is to create an environment of trust in which the child can share their experiences with their family. In cases of suspicion, online activities should be monitored, and messages and images that may serve as evidence should not be deleted. Bullying is a problem that can be resolved with the right intervention. The solution is not to remain silent, but to see, hear, and speak out.”