Objective To assess the relation between being bullied or being a bully at
school, depression, and severe suicidal ideation.
Design A school based survey of health, health behaviour, and behaviour in
school which included questions about bullying and the Beck depression inve
ntory, which includes items asking about suicidal ideation.
Setting Secondary schools in two regions of Finland.
Participants 16 410 adolescents aged 14-16.
Results There was an increased prevalence of depression and severe suicidal
ideation among both those who were bullied and those who were bullies. Dep
ression was equally likely to occur among those who were bullied and those
who were bullies. It was most common among those students who were both bul
lied by others and who were also bullies themselves. When symptoms of depre
ssion were controlled for, suicidal ideation occurred most often among adol
escents who were bullies.
Conclusion Adolescents who are being bullied and those who are bullies are
at an increased risk of depression and suicide. The need for psychiatric in
tervention should be considered not only for victims of bullying but also f
or bullies.