Is your friend experiencing bullying? Here are some ways you can offer them support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finding out your friend is experiencing bullying<\/a> is never easy. You may feel sad, scared or even angry about what your friend is going through. Even if you feel helpless, remember there are things you can do to help your friend feel better and address the harassment. Although you\u2019re not responsible for making the bullying stop, you can always be there, listen and encourage your friend to get support.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHere are some ways to help a friend who\u2019s experiencing bullying:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nReach out:<\/strong> check in and ask your friend how they\u2019re feeling and if they need anything. Just being there can show them how much you care. Remind them it\u2019s not their fault and they\u2019re not alone. Tell them there is hope and ways to stop the harassment.<\/li>\n\n\n\nStay safe:<\/strong> let your friend know their physical and emotional safety is essential. To do this, you can help them manage their social media, avoid certain people\/places and create a safety plan<\/a>. (If you and your friend need help making a safety plan, you can always contact a Kids Help Phone counsellor.)<\/li>\n\n\n\nRecord it:<\/strong> tell your friend it\u2019s a good idea to keep a record of the bullying (when, where, what happened, etc.). If your friend decides to report it, they\u2019ll have the information available to tell a safe adult. You can offer to help them keep track of the incident(s) together.<\/li>\n\n\n\nReport it<\/strong><\/a>:<\/strong> encourage your friend to report the bullying to a safe adult. Reporting bullying can help end it and protect others. You can offer to go with them for support when they\u2019re ready. Your friend may be upset and not want to tell anyone yet. If you\u2019re worried, you can talk to a parent\/caregiver, teacher or other safe adult about what\u2019s happening. They can help you figure out next steps for you and your friend.<\/li>\n\n\n\nStick together:<\/strong> try rallying other friends, peers or others to stick together and support your friend. As a group, you can help stop rumours and show your friend they\u2019re not alone. You can try hanging out and doing something fun like trying a new sport or hobby.<\/li>\n\n\n\nStep in:<\/strong> if you witness the harassment, you can step in and let the person who is bullying know their behaviour is not OK. You can ask your friend who\u2019s experiencing the bullying (and any bystanders<\/a>) to leave with you and go somewhere else. You can also try speaking up as a team to let the person know you disapprove of their actions, but only if it\u2019s safe to do so.<\/li>\n\n\n\nGet support: <\/strong>helping a friend with something as serious as bullying can be tough. It\u2019s important to take care of yourself, too. If you and\/or your friend need someone to talk to, you can speak with a friend or a parent\/caregiver, teacher or other safe adult. You and\/or your friend can always call a Kids Help Phone counsellor at 1-800-668-6868.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n