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News
Bullying isn't just a playground problem — it's a health issue. At the AAP National Conference, Vanderbilt's Dr. Seth Scholer introduced a one-minute clinical intervention to help pediatricians identify and address bullying during routine visits. The approach covers offering support, encouraging school involvement, providing resources, and scheduling a follow-up.
Bullying isn't just a social problem — it's a clinical one. At the AAP National Conference & Exhibition, Dr. Seth Scholer of Vanderbilt University Medical Center made the case that pediatricians are uniquely positioned to identify and intervene in bullying, and that it doesn't have to take long. He introduced a structured one-minute intervention designed to fit into any busy clinic visit.
The approach is practical: offer support, encourage school involvement, share resources, and schedule a follow-up in 1–2 months. Scholer also advises against using the word "bully" when screening — instead, open-ended questions about school life tend to get more honest answers. Warning signs to watch for include somatic complaints, school avoidance, falling grades, and suicidal ideation.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: Bullying has measurable, long-term consequences for both victims and perpetrators. By embedding a brief, structured intervention into routine well-child visits, pediatricians can play a meaningful role in early prevention — before the damage compounds.
