School factors as emotional triggers

The school environment, ideally a place for learning, socialization, and growth, can also become a significant source of emotional distress for many children and adolescents.

Factors such as bullying, comparisons, and lack of emotional support in schools are elements that directly influence the onset of disorders such as anxiety and depression at an early age.

Bullying as a direct cause of anxiety and depression

Bullying, both among peers and by teachers, is one of the most damaging emotional triggers in school. It can manifest itself verbally, physically, or emotionally, causing the victim to feel deeply humiliated, insecure, and constantly afraid.

Students who are subjected to teasing, exclusion, or systematic violence develop symptoms ranging from loss of self-esteem to self-destructive thoughts. It is even more serious when the bullying comes from an authority figure, such as a teacher.

Derogatory comments such as “you can't learn” or “you should be like your classmate” not only hurt, but also perpetuate a feeling of incompetence that can have a lasting effect on the child's self-perception. Unfortunately, this is not uncommon and represents a serious ethical transgression in the educational setting.

Comparisons: a silent wound

In addition to bullying, frequent comparisons with siblings, cousins, or classmates act as another source of emotional harm. These comparisons, which are often disguised as jokes or “motivational” comments, instill in the child the idea that they are not good enough, that there is always someone better or more valuable.

Phrases such as “you see, your cousin gets good grades, you don't get anything” or “your classmate is thin and you're overweight” are deeply hurtful and damage children's self-esteem.

These types of comments, coming from both family members and teachers, reinforce feelings of inferiority, frustration, and self-criticism. Children do not yet have the emotional resources to filter these statements, so they internalize them as absolute truths.

As a result, they may begin to avoid participating in class, withdraw socially, or give up activities they once enjoyed for fear of being compared or exposed again.

School as an unsafe space

When these factors combine—bullying, comparisons, excessive demands without emotional support—school ceases to be a safe place. For many children, attending class becomes a distressing experience, fraught with tension and fear.

Instead of motivating their development, the school environment begins to generate emotional symptoms such as insomnia, somatization, poor academic performance, irritability, or frequent crying.

It is therefore crucial that educational institutions work actively to build a culture of respect, empathy, and emotional care. Teachers and administrators must be trained not only in their academic discipline but also in strategies for early detection of emotional distress and appropriate intervention.

The implementation of anti-bullying protocols, active listening spaces, emotional tutoring, and the promotion of social-emotional skills are measures that can make a difference.

School can—and must—be a place of support, where children and adolescents feel valued, respected, and accompanied. Only then can we prevent school factors from becoming triggers of emotional suffering, rather than drivers of growth. Collaboration between families and schools, together with the role of mental health professionals, is essential to ensuring truly protective environments for our children.