Some of the effects comprise anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, lack of self-esteem, gastric issues, relationship issues, and addiction to alcohol and drug. Most of the victims need years of treatment and therapy to get over their psychological trauma caused by the bully.

Anti-bullying refers to laws, policies, organizations, and movements aimed at stopping or preventing bullying. Bullying is a situation where a person, called a bully, verbally or physically threatens or assaults a person, causing the person to feel a real or perceived power imbalance. Bullying can cause a person to feel extreme distress. It may lead to changes in sleep and dietary habits. It can even put someone at greater risk for committing suicide. This is why it's so important to prevent bullying.

A focus on preventing bullying is important, as is promoting positive actions such as kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. In some cases, bullying can lead to devastating consequences, such as school shootings and suicide. Bullying affects witnesses as well as targets.