Among 4,984 female adolescents surveyed, 8% reported experiencing cyberbullying in the previous 12 months, while 12% had MDD.

As the world observes Mental Health Day today, a study highlights the mental health risks of cyberbullying among adolescent girls, who are nearly four times more likely to have Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) if they experience online harassment.

The findings underscore the mental health risks of cyberbullying and the need for accessible reporting mechanisms, awareness campaigns and timely counselling for victims.

The study, titled “The association of cyberbullying with major depressive disorders among Bangladeshi female adolescents: findings from the Bangladesh Adolescent Health and Wellbeing Survey 2019-20”, analysed nationally representative data from the survey. It was published on Springer Nature Link on 12 August 2025.

Researchers from the Maternal and Child Health Division of the International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), and the Department of Statistics at Shahjalal University of Science and Technology conducted the study.

Among 4,984 female adolescents surveyed, 8% reported experiencing cyberbullying in the previous 12 months, while 12% had MDD. The prevalence of MDD among those who experienced cyberbullying was 31%.

Infograph: TBS

The study found that MDD prevalence rose with the frequency of cyberbullying. It stood at 23.2% among those reporting one or two incidents, 29.3% among those reporting two to four, and 38.2% among those experiencing five or more.

The association remained significant after accounting for age, marital status, education, employment, socioeconomic status, mobile phone and Facebook use, and area of residence.

Regional differences were also evident. Barishal recorded the highest prevalence of cyberbullying among female adolescents at 12.9%, followed by Rangpur at 10.7% and Mymensingh at 9.6%. Sylhet had the lowest rate, at 3.7%.

Friends or classmates were relatively more involved in cases involving unmarried girls, while strangers were the most common perpetrators across both marital categories. Among married or previously married girls, 6.6% reported cyberbullying by their husbands or members of their in-laws’ families.

Researchers noted that social relationships, self-identity and peer acceptance are important to psychological development during adolescence.

Online harassment, humiliation and social isolation can therefore have serious mental health consequences. As online abuse can spread rapidly and occur at any time, victims may experience prolonged stress, loneliness and helplessness.

The study recommended accessible reporting channels, awareness campaigns in schools and on social media, and timely counselling through teachers and healthcare providers.

Experts recommend seeking help instead of hiding

Professor Dr Helal Uddin Ahmed, a mental health expert, urged victims of cyberbullying, harassment and other forms of online violence to seek help promptly rather than conceal their experiences.

Speaking to The Business Standard, he said family members should avoid blaming victims. If necessary, victims can seek legal assistance through cyber-related units of law enforcement agencies. Mental health support is also important in addressing the effects of cyber violence, he added.

Counselling may help with mild mental health problems, while more severe conditions may require both medication and counselling, depending on individual needs.

92% of mental health patients remain untreated

The National Mental Health Survey 2018-19 found that around 18% of adults and 13% of adolescents in Bangladesh suffer from various mental health conditions.

Dr Helal said around 92% of people with mental health conditions in the country remain outside healthcare coverage.

The National Mental Health Policy 2022 highlighted a shortage of mental health professionals. Bangladesh has 0.13 psychiatrists and 0.01 other specialist doctors per 100,000 people, alongside 0.87 mental health nurses and 0.12 psychologists and other mental health professionals per 100,000 people.

Specialised mental health services are available at the National Institute of Mental Health in Dhaka and in Pabna. Medical colleges also provide treatment, but services remain limited at district and upazila levels.

Dr Helal said raising awareness and addressing superstition and social stigma were essential to encouraging people to seek care.

Because the number of psychiatrists and psychologists cannot increase overnight, he suggested training primary care doctors and nurses in mental healthcare through short-term programmes.

This year’s World Mental Health Day theme, “Lived Experiences Heard: Real Voices, Real Change”, calls for people with mental health conditions to have their voices heard and help shape the policies and services that affect their lives.