If a child is bullied, report it to the school the same day and ask for a written process; for hitting, taking money, or spreading rumors, call the police at once

Children bullied by peers are about 2.2 times as likely to have suicidal thoughts as those not bullied, and about 2.6 times as likely to have attempted suicide. Schools that receive a report must investigate at once; if bullying is found, they must discipline or punish, and serious cases must not be hidden — they must be reported to public security. So report the same day, ask for the formal finding process, and keep a written record.

Cost

No money. Go to the homeroom teacher and the school’s student-bullying governance body. To call the police, dial 110. The hard part is resisting pressure to “not make a big deal of it.”

Benefit

34 studies with 284375 children and adolescents pooled. Peer bullying linked to suicidal thoughts, OR 2.23 (95% CI 2.10–2.37), about 2.2 times the chance versus not bullied. Another 9 studies, 70102 people: bullying linked to suicide attempts, OR 2.55 (1.95–3.34), about 2.6 times. Results held across sex, age, and study quality. The link of cyberbullying to suicidal thoughts was stronger than offline bullying. Article 21 of the Regulations on School Protection of Minors (未成年人学校保护规定) lists five kinds of conduct: beating, kicking, slapping, grabbing/biting, shoving, pulling; insults, mockery, humiliating nicknames; snatching, forcing goods, or deliberate damage to property; malicious exclusion and isolation; fabricating facts online to defame or spread rumors. The same article says that when the side with an advantage in age, body, or numbers does these things willfully or maliciously and causes bodily harm, property loss, or mental harm, it may be found to be bullying. Article 22 requires staff who notice abnormal mood or bodily injury to inquire promptly and report. Article 23 requires the school, on receiving a report, to investigate at once, submit it to the bullying-governance body for finding and handling, and notify parents to take part. If bullying is found, educational discipline or a disciplinary sanction must follow. Serious bullying that violates public-security administration or may be a crime must not be concealed and must be reported promptly to public security and education authorities (nationwide, in force from 1 September 2021)

Notes

Article 22 names the signals: clear mood changes and bodily injury. If a child has injuries they cannot explain, or mood suddenly goes wrong, ask first. This pooled analysis only follows records and has no assigned controls, so it cannot prove bullying alone causes suicide. The direction and size of the risk are clear. The Plan for Comprehensive Governance of Bullying Among Primary and Secondary Students (加强中小学生欺凌综合治理方案) also requires a strict distinction between bullying and ordinary rough play among students. So the school must make a finding; a line like “kids just playing” is not enough.

Sources · 3

1. van Geel M, et al. (2014). Relationship between peer victimization, cyberbullying, and suicide in children and adolescents: a meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatrics. doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.4143
2. 教育部 (2021). 未成年人学校保护规定（教育部令第 50 号，第二十一、二十二、二十三条）. gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/2021-06/02/content_5…
3. 教育部等十一部门 (2017). 加强中小学生欺凌综合治理方案（教督〔2017〕10 号，三（一））. gov.cn/gongbao/content/2018/content_5294435.htm