The schoolyard can be a brutal place. For kids targeted by bullies, they may suffer the impact of bullying into their adult life. Bullying might appear to be something that kids only have to worry about while at school, but the truth is that they could wind up experience mental health effects later on in life due. The effect of bullying on California children lasts.

According to LiveScience, when children suffer at the hands of bullies frequently around the age of eight, they may develop psychiatric disorders. While not all adults who develop psychological disorders faced bullying as a kid, the numbers do say that bullied kids are more likely to have trouble.

Kids are more likely to develop depression or depressive disorders later in life. These disorders may be cause for psychiatric treatment as the child ages or in adulthood. Children may also have low self-esteem, depression and perform poorly at school.

Bullying is a traumatic experience for children. Crucial development occurs in early childhood. For children who find themselves targets of bullies, the bullying may stunt their social and psychological development. Kids who are bullies and targets of bullying have the worst mental health problems as adults. In a study, 31% of these children had mental health conditions that required some form of treatment.

Early intervention of bullying may be a way to prevent long-term mental health problems in children. Kids who bully or suffer bullying have the highest rates of anxiety, schizophrenia, depression and substance abuse.

This information is for educational use about the effects of bullying. It is not legal advice.