DAMPAK BULLYING TERHADAP KESEHATAN MENTAL SISWA DI SMP NEGERI 12 PALU

The impact of bullying constitutes a serious issue that can affect victims
across various aspects of life, including the occurrence of psychological disorders
such as depression, anxiety, and sleep disturbances. A study conducted by the
Department of Child Protection and Population Control (DP3A) of Central
Sulawesi Province recorded a total of 689 bullying cases in Central Sulawesi, with
the highest number of occurrences found in Palu City, totaling 106 cases. This study
aims to explore in depth the students' mental health conditions resulting from
bullying behavior. This research utilized a qualitative method with a case study
approach. The informants consisted of 8 individuals, comprising 5 primary
informants, 1 key informant, and 2 supporting informants. Data were gathered
through in-depth interviews and processed using a content analysis approach with
a matrix technique. The results indicated that bullying behavior exerts a severe
impact, victims continue to dwell on negative treatment such as insults and threats
and feel unsafe due to the fear of further mistreatment by the perpetrator. Bullying
also affects the student's emotional state manifested not only in the ability to
suppress feelings of sadness, anger, or the urge to cry, but also in the ability to
manage and understand those emotions positively. It is expected that schools and
parents will optimize bullying prevention and management efforts through
counseling services and mental health education. These initiatives should focus on
strengthening thought and imagination control, enhancing the sense of security and
acceptance, and developing students' ability to recognize and manage emotions
healthily.