Quintana Roo’s School Bullying Crisis Exposed

Cancún, Quintana Roo — School bullying, described as a silent killer, persists as a latent threat in the classrooms of Quintana Roo, where the state government and civil associations have intensified interventions to contain it.

In the northern zone of the state, where the problem is most acute, at least twenty students received attention during the 2024-2025 school year for being victims of bullying, according to Sergio Acosta Manzanero, national vice president of the Association of Parents, who coordinates efforts with the Secretary of Education, the State Attorney General's Office, and the Private Security Secretariat to detect and prevent these incidents.

The "Education for Peace" program is being implemented in schools across Quintana Roo, offering awareness talks, psychological support for victims and aggressors, and family involvement. The majority of cases have been concentrated in the northern region, where, according to figures from the Association of Parents and educational authorities, 35 incidents of bullying and 26 of cyberbullying were registered in the first ten months of 2025.

A case that recently went viral on social networks involved a student from Conalep in Cancún, who fell from a second floor, allegedly for being a victim of bullying. There was talk of a suicide attempt. No further information was provided about the case.

But these stories are not happening for the first time. Ten years ago, in 2015, a 9-year-old child attempted to take his own life. It was said at the time that he suffered from depression caused by bullying, a dermatological disease, and his parents' separation.

Lilian Negrete, director of the Centro de Integración Juvenil in Cancún, explains that bullying begins with teasing about physical appearance, socioeconomic status, or tastes, escalating to physical aggression or the imposition of humiliating conduct, with long-term consequences like anxiety and insecurities. She recommends listening without judgment and preventing victims from responding with violence.

Across the state, more than 60 official complaints of school bullying have been registered in Quintana Roo by the Secretary of Education and child protection agencies in 2025, highlighting the need for early detection through signs such as school refusal, low performance, mood changes, alterations in eating habits, or physical injuries.

Bullying is defined by intentionality, repetition, and an imbalance of power, according to experts, differentiating it from isolated conflicts. To combat it, UNICEF and the SEP advise listening to the child, fostering trust, informing school authorities, avoiding violent confrontations, and seeking psychological help, with resources such as the hotline 01 800 11 22676 and the website www.acosoescolar.sep.gob.mx.

On the International Day against Violence and Bullying at School, commemorated on November 6, the Governor of Quintana Roo, Mara Lezama, emphasized prevention through communication at home and school, explaining rights, self-defense, and risks on social networks, with the message #YoSíTeCreo to build safe spaces free of violence.

Cyberbullying amplifies the harm by having no temporal or spatial limits, affecting 20-30% of internet users, especially adolescents from 12 to 19 years old, according to the Cyberbullying Module. Javier Salas, a social psychologist, warns of its repetition on social networks, while guides like the SEP's "Escuela Libre de Violencia" face criticism for a lack of follow-up and transparency.

If you are a victim of school bullying in Quintana Roo, you can go to the Secretary of Education of the State of Quintana Roo (SEQ), the State Attorney General's Office, the state and municipal DIF System, or the Human Rights Commission of the State of Quintana Roo. There also exist national telephone support lines such as 01800-11-22676 (01800-11-ACOSO) and the portal of the Secretary of Public Education (SEP) www.acosoescolar.sep.gob.mx.

At the state level in Quintana Roo:

• Secretary of Education of Quintana Roo (SEQ): Contact the institution to report and receive advice. Its address in Cancún is Avenida Bonampak.
• State Attorney General's Office: You can file a formal complaint at the specialized prosecutor's offices, located in Cancún at Av. Xcaret Mz. 3, Lt. 14, Supermanzana 21, 77500.
• State and municipal DIF System: Offers legal protection for children, adolescents, and the family. In Cancún, the municipal office is in Supermanzana 94.
• Human Rights Commission of the State of Quintana Roo: An organization that can provide support and guidance.

At the national level:

• SEP support line: Call the free number 01800-11-ACOSO (22676) or visit the portal www.acosoescolar.sep.gob.mx.
• Other options: You can also consult the telephone support services of the Spanish government, such as the number 900 018 018, and the SEP's Escuela Libre de Violencia platform.