Four Tips to Stop the Bullying

First and most important step to fight against bullying is to communicate the issue right the way.

It’s school time again! You’re probably feeling a little sad and nervous that summer is over. Who can blame you?! After an incredible time at the beach and all the summer activities you had, thinking of going back to school is the last thing you want to be doing– especially if you fear being bullied.

Maybe the summer break and the planning of your Quinceanera celebration made you forget about the student to student harassment that—unfortunately, takes place in many school hallways. But now that you’re going back to school, it’s the perfect way to arm yourself with tactics to stop the bullying.

Prevention.
Although some may think that bullying is part of “kids being kids”, the reality is that it’s never appropriate to torment and make others feel unsafe. Did you know that:

•  A victim of bullying is twice as likely to take his or her own life compared to someone who is not a victim
•  One out of 10 students drop out of school because they are bullied.
•  57% of students who experience harassment in school never report the incident to the school.

Knowing this, the first step in preventing bullying is to realize that the behavior is not ok. It is key to realize when you are a victim and ask for help as soon as first signs of bullying arise. Recognize that you have a right not to be harassed, assaulted or abused.

Know what kind of bully you are dealing with.
After you notify an adult or school officials, try to avoid bullies in school but without showing fear. Surround yourself with a group of friends that will defend and keep you safe.

Create forums or school programs to help you stop bullying.
The more students know about bullying, the better off everyone will be. You’ll find more courage to encounter a bullying situation and eventually stop it for good.  This will also help you develop good communication skills, anger management skills and stress management skills.

Intervention.
If you’re a victim or a witness of bullying, intervention can work. Ask that an adult organize a meeting with the offender to try to understand why they are behaving in that manner. The goal during intervention is to get him/her to understand that what they are dong is wrong and to get them to stop. Know that adults can work better with these situations than you. As a matter of fact, adults should not expect teenagers to know how to work things out themselves.