Suicide: Exercise Lowers Depression Risk In Bullied Teens

Exercise should be an essential part of your daily routine. Not only does it cut down on the risk of health issues, but it also improves mood. During workouts, the body releases chemicals known as endorphins that interact with the brain, improving mood.

New findings revealed in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
show that exercise can help reduce sadness and even the potential of suicide in bullied adolescents.

In a recent study, researchers analyzed data on over 13,500 adolescent in grades nine through 12. They examined the relationships between exercise frequency, suicidal ideation, sadness and attempts at suicide.

As it stands, close to 20 percent of students report being bullied on their school property. Not only is bullying associated with an increased risk of academic issues, but it can also increase the risk of low self-esteem, depression, anxiety, substance abuse and even self-harm. Many teens who have been bullied also report depression later in life.

Findings revealed that 30 percent of the students in the study reported sadness for two or more weeks in the previous year, with 22.2 and 8.2 percent reporting suicidal ideation and suicidal attempts in the same time period. Furthermore, bullied students were twice as likely to report sadness and up to three times as likely to report suicidal ideation or attempts at suicide when compared to non-bullied peers. Fortunately, exercise helped to lower suicide risk and other aforementioned risks.

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