When we see someone getting bullied, or recognise the signs that someone is withdrawing, we can be in position to help them if they would like us to.
Bullying is offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behaviour involving the misuse of power that can make a person feel upset, humiliated, undermined or threatened. If someone you know is experiencing bullying you may find that they have become withdrawn, seem upset or will be avoiding certain people. It can be hard for them to talk about what has happened, and in some cases, they may feel as though you are against them as well as a part of a wider group.
Bullying is offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behaviour involving the misuse of power that can make a person feel upset, humiliated, undermined or threatened. If someone you know is experiencing bullying you may find that they have become withdrawn, seem upset or will be avoiding certain people. It can be hard for them to talk about what has happened, and in some cases, they may feel as though you are against them as well as a part of a wider group.
Supporting your peers
Have a look at the steps below to find out you can support your friend or peer by being an active bystander and speaking up for them. Remember, support is there for you as this can be a challenging position to be in, and it can be difficult to see a friend in distress; there is more information on available support here.
Listen to them: they may find it difficult to talk through what they have experienced, make sure you are empathetic, and hear what impact this experience has had on them. Make sure you do not minimalize their experience or try to provide suggestions at this stage.
Ask them what they want to do: By asking them what they would like to do you put control back in their hands and can make sure they are comfortable with a solution you come up with together.
Signpost them to support: You can direct them to support available at the university. For more information on Student Wellbeing Services, you can visit their webpages here.
Tell someone: If you have their consent, you can speak to a member of staff you trust or submit a Report + Support on their behalf. If we have their consent, we can reach out to them with an offer of support.
Be an active bystander: They may tell you about situations or people that are making them feel this way. If you can safely speak up, challenge the norm and call out unpleasant behaviour you can make a difference.
You can find more information on the what support is available webpage
For more information and to find out more about using Report and Support, please take a look at these pages.