SHAH ALAM - Persistent bullying experienced by students can have severe consequences on their mental health, leading to conditions such as neurosis and aggressive behavior, warns Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI) Psychology and Counseling expert Associate Professor Dr Fauziah Mohd Saad.
She explained that victims of bullying, particularly introverted individuals, may develop neurosis when subjected to continuous bullying without a support group to turn to.
"Many introverted victims choose to suffer in silence due to fear of disbelief or further bullying.
"Keeping emotions bottled up can result in stress, depression, and ultimately manifest as neurosis," she told Sinar on Thursday.
Dr Fauziah stressed the importance of support groups, including parents, family members, teachers, and friends, in providing an outlet for victims to express their feelings and release their stress, anxiety, and depression.
She also highlighted the role of schools in implementing legislation to address bullying, which has unfortunately become normalised in some boarding schools.
She recommended regular mental health screenings and raising awareness among counselors to understand better the mental health status of students in boarding schools.
On the the recent incident involving a Form Two male student at a secondary school in Alor Gajah, Melaka, who allegedly exhibited behavioral changes due to bullying and was involved in a tragic incident resulting in the death of his sibling, Dr. Fauziah acknowledged the possibility of the student experiencing a severe level of neurosis.
"However, we need to look into a thorough diagnostic report to confirm the specific category and severity of the mental disorder.
"Based on the presented scenario, it is likely that the victim is experiencing a serious stage of neurosis, which undoubtedly affects their thought patterns, emotions, and behaviors," she added.