Bullying phenomenon and preventive programs in Cyprus's school system

Abstract

A number of preventive programs and interventions regarding bullying phenomenon in schools in Cyprus and an epidemiological study of this phenomenon are presented in this paper. The epidemiological study and the preventive programs presented were developed in the European context of Daphne II, and Daphne III, coordinated by Greece with Coordinating Organization, the «Association for the Psychosocial Health of Children and Adolescents». Other countries involved were; Cyprus, Lithuania, Poland and Germany. The aim of these programs was to educate primary school students about bullying and its diverse forms, to provide them the necessary guidelines to identify bullying behavior and to develop the necessary mechanisms for reporting it. Findings suggest that bullying in schools in Cyprus is a reality and can cause victims PTSD symptomatology serious problems in mental health and overall functionality.

Keywords::

• Bullying
• post-traumatic syndrome
• mental health
• preventive interventions