Bullycide

The term Bullycide is a portmanteau word first used by Neil Marr and Tim Field in their book Bullycide: Death at Playtime. It refers to suicide attributable to the victim having been bullied. The term has come to prominence during the highly publicised teenage suicides in the USA in the latter part of 2010. However the term has been used prior to 2010.

In response to 2010 deaths an online event, Spirit Day, was created for 20 October 2010 in which participants wore purple items to signify opposition to bullying of LGBT people.

Legal analysts criticise the term because it links a cause with an effect under someone else's control.

Bullycide has also been defined as the killing of the bully by the victim.

Research shows those who are bullied have a higher probability of considering or performing suicide than those who are not.