“I had never known what bullying really was—until the year I entered seventh grade. That year, the 30,000 MNT I had in my pocket, which I was supposed to hand over to my teacher, went missing. I told my teacher about it, and they decided to check the classroom camera. It turned out that one of my classmates had taken it and hidden it behind his tie. That’s when my suffering began. Since I was also overweight, my classmates started treating me coldly and insultingly, saying things like, ‘Don’t lose your stuff again, clumsy,’ or ‘Don’t be a burden to others, you pig.’ I tried to ignore their behavior, but the more I ignored them, the angrier they became. At first, I thought I could handle it myself and didn’t take it too seriously. But day by day, things got worse—I had to hand over my pocket money to them, and even when it wasn’t my turn, I was forced to stay late after class to clean the room. When I got home late every evening, my parents would scold me for wandering around outside. Eventually, I couldn’t take it anymore and told them everything—and I transferred to another school.”

This teenage boy represents the countless children who suffer from bullying and exclusion, whose mental health and well-being are so severely affected that some even put their lives at risk. It’s heartbreaking to think how many other children are silently enduring similar or worse situations, not knowing who to turn to or where to seek help.

In schools, when children experience discrimination or bullying, it is often the whistleblower—the one who speaks up—who ends up being blamed or bullied even more. Support systems for those who suffer from bullying, both physically and psychologically, remain very limited. Perhaps not coincidentally, suicide rates among adolescents have been rising.

According to a survey conducted last year, 23.6 percent of deaths among 15–19-year-olds were due to suicide. Among children and teenagers, competition over appearance, wealth, or talent is common, leading to criticism and humiliation of one another. In some cases, it is the weaker or less academically successful students who are bullied, while in other cases, even the wealthier, more talented, or athletic ones become targets of discrimination.

1 in 3 students experiences bullying

The “Mental Health 2025” decision-making forum and academic conference was held on September 29. During the event, it was revealed that 28.1 people per 100,000 commit suicide nationwide. Of those, 84 percent are men and 47 percent are unemployed. By age group, suicide rates are highest among adolescents and young adults, with most victims being male.

Specifically, suicide accounts for 27.4 percent of deaths among those aged 20 to 24, 20.6 percent among those aged 25 to 29, and 23.6 percent among those aged 15 to 19. This means that nearly one in four people in these age groups die by suicide.

Over the past four years, 132 children have attempted suicide. Of these cases, 19.7 percent occurred in Khuvsgul Province, 14.4 percent in Uvs Province, and 10.6 percent in Tuv Province and Ulaanbaatar City.

Another key finding of the study was that peer discrimination and bullying remain major contributing factors. For instance, one in three students reported experiencing bullying at school. Cyberbullying, in particular, is becoming increasingly common. One in five female students and one in seven male students have been victims of cyberbullying.

The study also found that parental supervision and attention toward children remain weak. Last year alone, the National Trauma and Orthopedic Research Center (NTORC) received 1,343 children seeking medical care due to bullying or violence at school—whether from peers or strangers.

Most of these child victims suffered from concussions, soft tissue injuries, and fractures of the nose, elbow, or collarbone, as well as dislocated fingers and wrists—clear physical evidence of the harm caused by bullying.

Victims of technology-based violence

Mongolia’s adolescent population numbers around 1.2 million, and 74 percent of them are active internet users. As digital engagement has rapidly expanded in recent years, traditional forms of bullying—such as physical abuse and verbal insults—have also evolved, spreading faster and wider, almost like an epidemic.

According to data from the United Nations, cyberbullying includes spreading false information or rumors online with the intent to harm someone’s reputation, as well as sharing defamatory text, images, or videos. In Mongolia, this type of bullying has also become widespread. For instance, it has become common for students to take and post unflattering or compromising photos of their classmates in group chats. With nearly every school now having its own online group, it is not unusual for students to be insulted from anonymous accounts or to have inappropriate images or videos of them shared online.

Over the past five years, more than 146,000 crimes have been recorded by the police, of which around 11,000 involved child victims. During the same period, 350 reports related to peer bullying were registered, and 29 cases (8.3 percent) of those occurred online.

Bullying, intimidation, and violence among children constitute criminal or misdemeanor acts under Mongolian law. Acts such as extortion, verbal abuse, and physical assault are punishable offenses.

Complaints about bullying remain extremely low

Parental involvement is crucial in preventing and addressing bullying. Observing a child’s emotional state and maintaining open communication are among the most effective ways to protect their physical and mental well-being. Yet, many parents are unaware that their child is being bullied or excluded. Some even hesitate to acknowledge it or make matters worse by telling their children to “hit back if someone hits you,” thereby perpetuating the cycle of violence.

For example, last month in Ulaanbaatar City, students from a general education school were riding rented scooters and began chasing younger children who were playing in a park. When a passerby intervened, the students verbally abused and threatened the person. The incident drew public attention after it was revealed that the students’ parents defended their children and insulted the victim using inappropriate language.

When asked about such incidents, Uuganbayar, Head of the Complaints and Monitoring Department of the National Human Rights Commission of Mongolia (NHRCM), stated, “About 12 percent of all complaints received by the commission are related to child abuse. However, complaints specifically about peer bullying are very few—so few they could be counted on 10 fingers. We categorize them into two types: those with criminal characteristics and those involving ethical misconduct. If the case involves harm to someone’s physical health or well-being, the police take action under the Criminal Code or the Law on Infringement. In contrast, issues related to ethical misconduct fall under the responsibility of educational institutions, which must respond in accordance with their legal mandate.”

He added that after the recent incident of school bullying spread on social media, the NHRCM immediately registered it as a complaint and launched an investigation. “We are also reviewing and analyzing how many complaints related to this particular school have been filed with the commission in the past three years. Once the investigation is complete, the findings will be made public. Since 2023, two complaints related to this school have been filed—one concerning a teacher’s ethics, and the other involving peer bullying,” said Uuganbayar.

Changing attitude of witnesses also matters 

Peer bullying remains a silent epidemic threatening the mental health and even the lives of children across the world. In response, many countries have begun developing various projects and programs to combat the issue. Among them, Finland and Japan are often cited as having the most effective approaches.

In Finland, the “KiVa” program defines bullying not merely as an individual problem but as a group dynamic issue. What makes the program unique is its focus not only on the bully or the victim but also on bystanders—the students who witness bullying without directly taking part. The goal is to change the attitudes and behaviors of these witnesses, encouraging them to stand up against bullying rather than silently accepting it. In other words, the program emphasizes the responsibility of every student to prevent bullying from escalating.

Meanwhile, Japan enacted a law in 2013 specifically aimed at preventing bullying, officially recognizing it as a punishable offense within the legal system. This means that cases of bullying are now handled through formal legal and institutional channels, reflecting the country’s commitment to tackling the problem comprehensively.

These examples illustrate how peer bullying among adolescents can lead not only to severe psychological distress but can also pose a serious threat to life itself. It is tragic that at an age when children should be playing, learning, and creating joyful memories with their friends, some instead leave deep, lasting scars on others’ hearts.

Protecting Mongolia’s children and youth—the nation’s future—from bullying has therefore become an urgent collective responsibility shared by society, families, schools, and policymakers alike. Children must be taught the skills and values of self-protection and empathy, and their mental well-being must be nurtured with consistent care and attention.