Bullying in school is a social process in which a student in a less powerful position is repeatedly harassed or excluded by others. It can be physical, verbal, or relational, or even online harassment.

Research has found that in bullying processes, victims tend to be socially constructed as odd, different, deviant, or people who do not ‘fit in’.

ALSO READ: How bullying in schools breeds failure

Take for example what happened to Uwimpuhwe (not real name) in 2016 when she enrolled in a boarding school located in Kigali, which she remembers as "a school for privileged students.”

As a newcomer in Senior Four, Uwimpuhwe had previously attended a day secondary school in Nyamirambo during her O-Level studies. Fortunately, she was awarded a scholarship by a charity organisation, which allowed her to enroll in an "excellent” boarding school.

Uwimpuhwe, along with other scholarship recipients, came from underprivileged backgrounds.

"The existing ‘rich’ students were told that the new students, including me, were villagers, didn’t know how to bathe, and that we smelled bad,” she said.

ALSO READ: Bullying should not be tolerated in schools

Upon arriving, Uwimpuhwe found herself isolated by the other students (girls) who frequently bullied her and prevented her from joining their clubs. She said they often laughed at her when she tried to approach them or simply passed by.

"One incident that affected me the most,” she continued, "was when I wrote an application letter to join one of the clubs I had been the president of at my previous school. After some time, I discovered it had been thrown onto the basketball field. That club seemed to only want students from wealthy families, even though they wouldn’t explicitly state it. It deeply wounded me.”

Uwimpuhwe said the feeling of exclusion resulted in her lacking self-confidence because she couldn’t speak among others. She added that whenever they bullied her, she would go somewhere alone and cry, releasing her sorrow.

"I would then try to motivate myself not to care about them, although that wasn’t easy,” she continued.

ALSO READ: How to cope with bullies at school

Fortunately, when she was in her final year in 2018, the scholarship benefactor helped her and fellow recipients create their own club at the school named ‘Tuseme’, which taught them to raise their voices and start feeling important.

Uwimpuhwe recognises that bullying is an issue, as she knows some students who would fail academically or even drop out because of it. She calls for schools to give the issue enough attention and keep raising awareness among themselves about its consequences, encouraging them to stop it.

Research published in the Journal of Child and Family Studies in 2018 suggests that children and youth who are bullied over time are more likely than those not bullied to experience depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem. They also are more likely to be lonely and want to avoid school.

According to Sauteur Ndikubwimana, a clinical psychologist and the Deputy Director of Ubuzima Innovation Hub, bullying is witnessed in schools, especially among girls, where their fellows body shame or name-call them, which can lead to isolation and potentially result in depression.

Bystanders to bullying may also experience mental health effects. The same study showed that students who witness bullying at school experienced increased anxiety and depression regardless of whether they supported the bully or the person being bullied.

"A person who has been bullied feels isolated from the rest of society. Then, they feel hopeless and helpless, which can turn into depression,” he said. "In case they are bullied about their body, being called ugly, and feeling like nobody can love them, they might decide not to enter relationships or ever get married. It affects their thought processes as well as their mental health.”

Ndikubwimana highlighted that when bullying persists and the school community remains indifferent to the well-being of the victim, it can lead to tragic consequences, such as suicide.

ALSO READ: Mental health: Young activists take the discussion to schools

He said many people tend to overlook the issue, and, in his opinion, the associated stigma can be even more detrimental than the mental health challenges themselves.

Ndikubwimana highlighted that bullying at school can negatively impact a student’s academic performance, adding that the victim often chooses to suffer in silence, enduring the toll it takes on their mental health.

Ndikubwimana highlighted the challenging nature of coping for victims, emphasising that while it may not be easy, strategies such as disregarding negative comments from others and concentrating on their own strengths and abilities can provide some assistance.

Additionally, he stressed the importance of reporting such incidents.

"The primary responsibility lies with the community and educational institutions in preventing bullying and recognising its potential harm. School leaders should take proactive measures to prevent such incidents, and students themselves must refrain from engaging in such behaviour due to its negative impact,” he said.

Many sources recommend reporting the incident, avoiding being alone, and distancing oneself from the bully as effective coping strategies.