If a close friend is being bullied, make arrangements, so you can be with them in situations where bullying typically happens. For example, you can plan to walk with them in-between classes or on the way to school. [2] X Trustworthy Source StopBullying. gov Website run by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services providing information related to identifying and preventing bullying Go to source Even if you don’t know the person being bullied, move towards and stand with them. Showing bravery in these situations breaks the “spell” that bullying can cast on bystanders. Many of your peers want to do the right thing but are too afraid. If you take the first step, some will follow. [3] X Trustworthy Source StopBullying. gov Website run by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services providing information related to identifying and preventing bullying Go to source If you sense that you might get hurt, leave and go quickly to get an adult.
Even if someone who’s bullying says something funny or clever, never laugh or respond positively. If you witness cyberbullying, never share these negative posts.
First identify the behavior as wrong. You can say something like: “This isn’t right,” “That’s messed up,” or “This has gone too far. ” Next invite others to help you stop the bullying: “We can’t let this go on,” “Let’s help them out,” or “We have to do something. ” As you start to move towards the person being bullied, gesture for others to come with you.
You can say things like, “this is too much drama for a Monday. ” Or “the bell’s about to ring. Let’s go. ” Try to compliment the person being bullied in some way. Engage the person being bullied in conversation. Even if you don’t know the person well, you can ask them if they saw a recent movie or have weekend plans. If you’re struggling to find something to say and things are heating up, create a diversion. Spill a bottle of water, drop your books, slam a locker, or set off a timer. Diversions break the tension and let everyone reevaluate what to do.
You can say something simple like: “hey, let’s get out of here. ” Asking the person being bullied for help with something is a great strategy. You ask for help with last-minute homework, ask them to come with you on an errand, or even pretend that you lost something and need their help finding it.
Say something like,“You’re really strong. The bully is the one who’s weak because they need to pick on people to feel good. It’s not cool. " Validate what they’ve gone through—let them know that it’s okay if they feel upset about it. It can help to name out loud which parts of the experience were intimidation, bullying, or abuse. [5] X Expert Source Allison Broennimann, PhDClinical Psychologist Expert Interview. 14 December 2020. Encourage them to tell an adult and offer to go with them when they report it. [6] X Research source
You can simply say, “What you’re doing isn’t cool. Please stop. " Or you could say, “I don’t like how you’re treating my friend. Stop. " Avoid yelling or retaliating. You don’t want to hurt a bully’s feelings. Most bullies are struggling themselves, so treat them with respect. If you’re witnessing cyberbullying, you can send the bully a private message that says you know what’s going on and they need to stop.
The most effective approach is simply to leave (with the person who was being bullied) after intervening. You may also want to help the person who was bullying save face by saying something like: “I know you were just joking. Let’s all take a breather” before you leave. If you feel comfortable, check in with the person who was bullying later on in the day. Let them know that even though you don’t tolerate bullying, you know they are good a person.
Try to write down what happened as soon as possible after the event. Our memories get worse as times passes. Include the names of other witnesses, the date and time of the event, and the location. Try to include what each individual said and did leading up to and during the event. Consider asking other witnesses to tell you what they observed and write that down too.
Report bullying whether it happens at school, online, or elsewhere.
If bullying continues to be an issue in your school or community, continue to write down what’s happening and follow up with adults and administrators.
If you see someone eating alone at lunch or walking by themselves, ask them to join you. Certain groups of people such as LGBTQ youth, people with disabilities, or members of minority groups frequently become the targets of bullying. Bullying is hard on anyone, but because members of these groups typically experience more bullying than others, it’s important to make sure you look out for them.
If possible, try to compliment, include, or even befriend the person who bullied. You can either just pretend the bullying did not happen and strike up an unrelated conversation with the bully at a later date. Or you can address the situation by saying something like, “I realize it got a little tense back there, but I hope we can just let that go and get along with each other. ”
The committee can either be an informal group or an official school club, but it should include both students and adults. [12] X Trustworthy Source StopBullying. gov Website run by the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services providing information related to identifying and preventing bullying Go to source Some important actions you can take include: mapping where bullying typically takes place and making sure those areas are better supervised, holding regular assemblies to raise awareness, and making sure that your school or organization have firm rules and guidelines for addressing bullying. [13] X Research source
