Bullying Resources for Grades 6 - 12
For more information, contact StopBullying.gov

If you have been bullied, it may affect you in many ways. You may not want to go to school or may find it hard to do your homework. You may be losing sleep, eating more or less than usual, having headaches or stomachaches, or getting sick more often. Know that you do not have to feel this way.

Your Feelings are Important

• Do not blame yourself
  It is easy to question whether you are the problem. But no matter what someone says or does, you should not be ashamed of who you are or what you feel.

• Be proud of who you are
  No matter what they say, there are wonderful things about you. Keep those in mind instead of the disrespectful messages you get from the people who are bullying you.

• Do not be afraid to get help
  Sometimes it helps to just talk to someone who is not personally involved. Teachers, counselors, and others are there to help. Seeing a counselor or other professional does not mean there is something wrong with you.

What to Do When You Are Being Bullied

The first priority is always your safety. Here are some strategies for you to consider:

• Tell them to stop.

• Walk away. Do not let them get to you. If you walk away or ignore them, they will not get that satisfaction.

• Protect yourself. Sometimes you cannot walk away. If you are being physically hurt, protect yourself so that you can get away.

• Tell an adult you trust. Talking to someone could help you figure out the best ways to deal with the problem. In some cases, adults need to get involved for the bullying to stop.

• Find a safe place. Go somewhere that you feel safe and secure like the library, a favorite teacher’s classroom, or the office.

• Stick together. Stay with a group or individuals that you trust.

• Find opportunities to make new friends. Explore your interests and join school or community activities such as sports, drama, or art. Volunteer or participate in community service.

Has someone called you a bully?

You may feel pressured to bully others if your friends are doing it. You may think that you will no longer be popular or that you may be bullied yourself if you do not join in.

Sometimes you may think that you are just joking around but your words and your actions may actually be hurting someone.

Did you know that teens who bully are more likely to have poor grades, drop out of school, use drugs, or commit crimes?

Put Yourself in Their Shoes

• Consider how they must feel. If it seems like you are hurting them at all, stop.

• Ask the person being bullied how they feel. Maybe they are afraid or too embarrassed to say something.

• Do not let your friends bully others. If your friends are bullying others, help them see how they are hurting others.

Make it Right

• Apologize. Sometimes telling someone you are sorry can go a long way.

• Focus on doing things differently from now on. Although you cannot change what has happened, you can change how you treat others in the future. Get Help

• Talk with an adult. They may have good ideas about what you can do to change how you treat others.

• Ask for help. Seeing a counselor or a health professional may be helpful. Sometimes it is good to talk with someone who is not personally involved to help you find solutions.

Take a Stand Against Bullying

Everyone has the right to feel safe in their school and community. If you see someone being bullied, you have the power to stop it.

By standing up for someone who is being bullied, you are not just helping someone else; you are also helping yourself. It is important to help others when you can.

What to Do When Someone is Being Bullied

• Take a stand and do not join in. Make it clear that you do not support what is going on.

• Do not watch someone being bullied. If you feel safe, tell the person to stop. If you do not feel safe saying something, walk away and get others to do the same. If you walk away and do not join in, you have taken their audience and power away.

• Support the person being bullied. Tell them that you are there to help. Offer to either go with them to report the bullying or report it for them.

• Talk to an adult you trust. Talking to someone could help you figure out the best ways to deal with the problem. Reach out to a parent, teacher or another adult that you trust to discuss the problem, especially if you feel like the person may be at risk of serious harm to themselves or others.

Work to Prevent Bullying

Bullying is less likely to occur when there are strong messages against it. Work with your school, community, or other groups to create and support these messages:

• Get involved with your school and community to find ways to prevent bullying.

• Create an assembly, performance, or event to spread the message.