State Anti-Bullying Laws Reduce Suicide Attempts Among Teens

Research indicates that state-level anti-bullying laws (ABLs) significantly decrease suicide attempts among overweight and obese high school students in the United States. A recent study reveals that these laws can lead to a reduction in suicidal behaviors by as much as 19%.

The study, utilizing data from national and state youth risk behavior surveys collected over two decades, has been published in the journal Health Economics. It is the first research to focus on how ABLs affect mental health disparities between overweight adolescents and their peers of healthy weight.

According to the findings, ABLs are linked with a 6% to 19% decline in suicidal behaviors among overweight and obese teenagers. After the implementation of these laws, there was a noted 19% decrease in suicide attempts that required medical attention, along with an overall 9% decline in all reported suicide attempts. The study also found that the percentage of adolescents who created suicide plans dropped by 7%, while those seriously contemplating suicide decreased by 6%.

Researchers believe that these laws are particularly beneficial for those at greater risk due to adverse social interactions. One of the co-authors noted that the effects of ABLs are especially pronounced among obese teenage girls, a demographic that frequently encounters bullying and mental health challenges. Conversely, no significant changes in suicidal behaviors were observed among healthy-weight teens.

Interestingly, the research team discovered that the implementation of ABLs did not alter teens' self-image, weight-loss ambitions, or body mass index. This suggests that the observed mental health improvements stem from enhanced school environments rather than physical or perceptual alterations.

Furthermore, ABLs were associated with a 12% reduction in instances of cyberbullying among overweight and obese teenage girls. The researchers highlighted that while bullying was historically confined to physical spaces, it has now migrated online, and ABLs extend protective measures into these digital realms.

Over the past twenty years, American youth have experienced parallel increases in obesity rates and mental health issues. Currently, around 35% of young Americans are classified as overweight or obese, and during this same period, there has been a troubling rise in suicide rates and hospital admissions for self-harm.

All 50 states have enacted ABLs, which typically include measures such as sanctions for bullying, incident documentation procedures, enforcement standards at schools, and educational initiatives for students, staff, and parents. Research indicates that comprehensive ABLs, especially those emphasizing punishment and monitoring repeat offenders, tend to be the most effective.

However, the study notes that the vast majority of ABLs do not specifically address appearance- and weight-based bullying, which remains prevalent in schools. The researchers suggest that there is potential for policy enhancement to better target these common forms of bullying.