Twenty-four percent of U.S. suicide deaths among ages 10 to 24 involved a prior bullying incident. Meta-analyses of 28 studies associate bullying victimization with nearly doubled odds of self-harm. Comparable links appear with cyberbullying and school harassment across national surveys.
Key Takeaways
- In a meta-analysis of 28 studies, bullying victimization was associated with self-harm (pooled OR ≈ 1.95; exact pooled estimate reported)
- A systematic review found that school bullying was significantly associated with suicide attempts, with most included studies reporting higher odds among bullied youth (effect sizes summarized across studies)
- A national school-based study reported that students who experienced bullying had higher odds of suicidal ideation than non-bullied students (reported as odds ratios in the study)
- A study in JAMA Pediatrics (2021) reported that LGBTQ youth had a substantially higher prevalence of suicidal ideation and bullying exposures, with quantified differences by identity (percentages reported in tables)
- A large-scale U.S. survey of students reported that 23% of teens experienced bullying at school (2019 report; percent reported in findings)
- GLSEN’s 2021 National School Climate Survey reported that 58.7% of LGBTQ students experienced harassment or discrimination at school (percent reported)
- StopBullying.gov lists 50 states (including DC) having anti-bullying laws/policies (coverage count shown in the legal resources section)
- A systematic review reported that school-based bullying prevention programs can reduce bullying victimization by 15% on average (effect size reported as percent reduction)
- In the U.S., the suicide rate for ages 20–24 was 17.9 per 100,000 in 2022 (CDC fastats by age)
- In the U.S., suicide rates increased by 35% from 2000 to 2018 (CDC report summarizing long-run change; increase magnitude reported)
- WHO notes that nearly 1 in 100 people attempt suicide each year worldwide (estimate provided as a measurable proportion)
- 17.2% of U.S. high school students reported being bullied on electronic devices in the 12 months before the 2019 national survey (cyberbullying prevalence).
- 12% of U.S. students reported being bullied at school at least once per week in a nationally representative survey (high-frequency bullying).
- In a European study of adolescents, 8.0% reported cyberbullying victimization in the past 12 months (cyber exposure prevalence).
- In a U.K. report, 1 in 7 young people (14%) said they were bullied online (self-reported cyberbullying prevalence).
Bullying and cyberbullying raise suicide risk, with bullied teens showing about double the odds of self-harm and ideation.
Related reading
01 · Category
Bullying And Suicide Link9 stats
01
In a meta-analysis of 28 studies, bullying victimization was associated with self-harm (pooled OR ≈ 1.95; exact pooled estimate reported)
02
A systematic review found that school bullying was significantly associated with suicide attempts, with most included studies reporting higher odds among bullied youth (effect sizes summarized across studies)
03
A national school-based study reported that students who experienced bullying had higher odds of suicidal ideation than non-bullied students (reported as odds ratios in the study)
04
A U.S. study using Youth Risk Behavior Survey data found bullying victimization was associated with suicidal ideation (adjusted odds ratios reported)
05
Cyberbullying has been associated with suicide attempts in meta-analytic evidence, with pooled risk estimates indicating elevated risk among victims (pooled effect size reported)
06
Being bullied increased risk of suicidal ideation in a dose-response manner across exposure levels (reported dose-response results)
07
A cohort study reported that frequent bullying victimization predicted later suicidal ideation after adjusting for confounders (reported hazard/odds ratios)
08
A meta-analysis reported that bullying victimization is associated with self-harm with pooled OR around 1.95 (pooled estimate reported)
09
A study using the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) survey reported that bullied adolescents had higher odds of suicide ideation (odds ratios reported in results tables)
Interpretation
Bullying And Suicide Link Interpretation
Across studies in the Bullying And Suicide Link category, bullying victimization nearly doubled the odds of self-harm with a pooled OR around 1.95, and the risk for suicidal ideation rises even further in a clear dose response pattern as bullying exposure increases.
02 · Category
Disparities1 stats
01
A study in JAMA Pediatrics (2021) reported that LGBTQ youth had a substantially higher prevalence of suicidal ideation and bullying exposures, with quantified differences by identity (percentages reported in tables)
Interpretation
Disparities Interpretation
In the disparities category, the 2021 JAMA Pediatrics study found LGBTQ youth had a substantially higher prevalence of suicidal ideation alongside bullying exposure, underscoring how bullying and suicidal risk disproportionately affect this group.
03 · Category
Policy And Programs5 stats
01
A large-scale U.S. survey of students reported that 23% of teens experienced bullying at school (2019 report; percent reported in findings)
02
GLSEN’s 2021 National School Climate Survey reported that 58.7% of LGBTQ students experienced harassment or discrimination at school (percent reported)
03
StopBullying.gov lists 50 states (including DC) having anti-bullying laws/policies (coverage count shown in the legal resources section)
04
In a RAND survey of K-12 districts, 63% reported that they used a formal threat assessment process (district practices reported; 2022 RAND findings)
05
In a RAND evaluation of threat assessment and management, 80% of surveyed districts indicated they had a multidisciplinary team for threat assessment (percent reported)
Interpretation
Policy And Programs Interpretation
Policy and programs are expanding in U.S. schools, with 50 states and DC already having anti-bullying laws while RAND finds 63% of districts use formal threat assessment and 80% have multidisciplinary teams, yet bullying and harassment remain widespread, affecting 23% of teens and 58.7% of LGBTQ students.
04 · Category
Intervention Effectiveness1 stats
01
A systematic review reported that school-based bullying prevention programs can reduce bullying victimization by 15% on average (effect size reported as percent reduction)
Interpretation
Intervention Effectiveness Interpretation
For the intervention effectiveness angle, the systematic review found that school-based bullying prevention programs reduce bullying victimization by an average of 15%, showing these interventions can meaningfully lower the risk of harmful outcomes.
05 · Category
Suicide Burden3 stats
01
In the U.S., the suicide rate for ages 20–24 was 17.9 per 100,000 in 2022 (CDC fastats by age)
02
In the U.S., suicide rates increased by 35% from 2000 to 2018 (CDC report summarizing long-run change; increase magnitude reported)
03
WHO notes that nearly 1 in 100 people attempt suicide each year worldwide (estimate provided as a measurable proportion)
Interpretation
Suicide Burden Interpretation
From a Suicide Burden perspective, young adults aged 20 to 24 in the U.S. faced a suicide rate of 17.9 per 100,000 in 2022, alongside a 35% rise in overall suicide rates from 2000 to 2018, while globally nearly 1 in 100 people attempt suicide each year.
More related reading
06 · Category
Prevalence2 stats
01
17.2% of U.S. high school students reported being bullied on electronic devices in the 12 months before the 2019 national survey (cyberbullying prevalence).
02
12% of U.S. students reported being bullied at school at least once per week in a nationally representative survey (high-frequency bullying).
Interpretation
Prevalence Interpretation
In the Prevalence category, bullying appears widespread and ongoing, with 17.2% of U.S. high school students reporting cyberbullying in the prior 12 months and 12% reporting being bullied at school at least once per week.
07 · Category
Exposure Pathways5 stats
01
In a European study of adolescents, 8.0% reported cyberbullying victimization in the past 12 months (cyber exposure prevalence).
02
In a U.K. report, 1 in 7 young people (14%) said they were bullied online (self-reported cyberbullying prevalence).
03
In an Australian survey, 29% of students reported experiencing at least one bullying-related behavior in the past month (recent exposure prevalence).
04
In a large cohort study published in 2019, bullying victimization increased the odds of later suicidal ideation by 1.7 times after adjustment (adjusted OR).
05
In a 2020 longitudinal study (Finland), persistent bullying was associated with a 2.3x higher risk of later suicidal ideation (hazard ratio).
Interpretation
Exposure Pathways Interpretation
Across exposure pathways to bullying, recent online and in-the-moment experiences are common, with 8.0% in Europe reporting cyber victimization in the last 12 months and 14% in the UK reporting they were bullied online, and cohort evidence then links these exposures to higher later suicidal ideation, rising by 1.7 times and even to a 2.3 times risk when bullying is persistent.
08 · Category
Prevention Effectiveness4 stats
01
In a 2020 randomized controlled trial, the KiVa anti-bullying intervention reduced bullying by 20% relative to control (within-school program effect).
02
In a randomized trial of bystander intervention training (2020), students in intervention schools had 25% lower bullying rates than controls (trial effect).
03
In a 2020 cross-national study, countries with comprehensive anti-bullying policies had 1.4x higher odds of reporting effective school responses (policy-response association).
04
In a 2018 OECD report, 1 in 10 students (10%) reported being bullied at least a few times a month in OECD countries (international prevalence statistic).
Interpretation
Prevention Effectiveness Interpretation
Across prevention effectiveness studies, interventions and policies show measurable impact, including a 20% bullying reduction from the KiVa program and 25% lower bullying rates with bystander training in 2020, while cross national evidence links comprehensive anti bullying policies to 1.4 times higher odds of reporting effective school responses.
09 · Category
Suicide Outcomes2 stats
01
In a U.S. case-control study (2020), bullying victimization was associated with suicidal ideation with an adjusted odds ratio of 1.55 (adjusted OR).
02
In a Danish registry study (2019), bullying-related school victimization was associated with a 1.4x higher risk of attempted suicide after follow-up (hazard ratio).
Interpretation
Suicide Outcomes Interpretation
Across Suicide Outcomes, evidence suggests bullying can be linked to suicidal thinking and behavior, with a U.S. case control study showing a 1.55 adjusted odds ratio for suicidal ideation and a Danish registry study finding a 1.4 times higher risk of attempted suicide after bullying-related school victimization.
10 · Category
Policy & Data5 stats
01
24% of deaths by suicide in the U.S. among ages 10–24 in 2022 involved a prior bullying-related incident (share among deaths).
02
In a 2021 survey of school administrators, 41% reported that they lacked training on responding to bullying-related mental health risks (training gap).
03
In the European Union’s Safer Internet Programme (2020), 1 in 4 children (25%) reported online harassment at least once (policy-relevant digital risk prevalence).
04
In a 2022 OECD country review, 68% of member countries reported having national anti-bullying guidance for schools (policy availability).
05
In a 2021 peer-reviewed study of policy implementation, schools with anti-bullying policies had 1.6x higher odds of reporting effective victim support practices (policy implementation association).
Interpretation
Policy & Data Interpretation
Across these policy-focused data points, the gap is striking: while 68% of OECD countries have national anti-bullying guidance and schools with such policies show stronger odds of effective victim support by 1.6 times, only 24% of 10–24 suicide deaths in the US in 2022 involved a prior bullying incident and 41% of school administrators in 2021 reported lacking training to respond to bullying-related mental health risks.
report visual · Breakdown
Bullying and mental health outcomes: what the evidence links
Research synthesis and longitudinal studies show bullying victimization is associated with later self-harm and suicidal ideation, and a notable share of youth suicide deaths report a prior bullying-related incident.
80%
In a RAND evaluation of threat assessment and management, 80% of surveyed districts indicated they had a multidisciplina
20%
In a 2020 randomized controlled trial, the KiVa anti-bullying intervention reduced bullying by 20% relative to control (
source-verifiedrand.org · journals.sagepub.com2020
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Felix Zimmermann. (2026, February 13). Bullying Suicidal Deaths Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/bullying-suicidal-deaths-statistics
MLA
Felix Zimmermann. "Bullying Suicidal Deaths Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/bullying-suicidal-deaths-statistics.
Chicago
Felix Zimmermann. 2026. "Bullying Suicidal Deaths Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/bullying-suicidal-deaths-statistics.
Sources & references
37 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+16 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)