For Students

What Can Students Do If They are Bullied?

• Tell an adult (at home and at school)
• Be assertive, NOT aggressive
• Assertive means looking the person in the eye and tellin them clearly and confidently, "Stop It!"
• Aggressive means getting physical with the person and this is the wrong way to handle a bullying situation.
• Give a neutral verbal response to de-escalate the situation  (e.g., Say to the perpetrator, “So” or  “Whatever”)
• Communicate desires in a firm, calm voice (e.g., “Go away and stop bothering me!”)
  

Always know when to walk away!  Your safety is the most important thing!

To ensure your safety:

• Don’t go places where bullies hang out
• Travel with others; avoid walking alone
  
• Beware of signs that suggest the bullying is becoming violent (e.g., Pay attention to body language, take notice when the bullying behavior becomes physical and more aggressive, etc.)
• Immediately get adult assistance if the bully has a weapon
• Know your surroundings - Always know where to go for help

Never be embarrassed to ask for help!

Did you know…Almost 50% of teens see at least one bullying or taunting incident in school every day.  Almost 30% see such episodes at least once a week.

What Can Bystanders Do When They Know Someone is Being Bullied?

• Get help from an adult when you see or hear someone being bullied
• Avoid gossip; refuse to spread rumors
• Refuse to join in when someone is being bullied
• Create a distraction to draw the bully/bullies away
• Include someone who is being left out from an activity
• Speak up when someone is being bullied

The fact is that most bystanders at least KNOW the bullying is wrong, but only 35% actually do something to help. To stop this epidemic from spreading, everyone must get involved.  So if you see it or hear it happening, do something!