DEALING WITH BULLYING TO DO NOT TO DO Look for visible signs (bruises, scratches, fractures, and scars; fear of going to school or participating in school events; anxious or very cautious behaviour; having few friends both inside and outside of school). Provide a safe, non-judgmental environment to talk. Ask open-ended questions to encourage sharing. Show empathy and understanding. Stay calm even if the situation makes you angry. Support the person in talking to an adult or seeking professional help from a psychologist. Help the person reflect on their emotions. Encourage to respond assertively, but not aggressively. If the situation is serious, seek help from trusted professionals. Help the victim to report to the competent authorities. Help the victim to connect with other supportive groups (family, friends, psychologists, teachers, support groups). Remember that bullying is based on a feeling of inadequacy, perceived by the perpetrator himself. Don t minimise the experience. Don t let excessive emotions overwhelm the person. Don t give unsolicited advice or immediate solutions. Don t have violent or impulsive reactions. Don t pressure the victim to speak up or take action if they re not ready. Don t make the victim feel forced to report or confront the bully. Don t blame the victim for the situation they re in. Don t suggest violent, aggressive responses or vindictive behaviour against the bully. Don t ignore serious or dangerous bullying situations. Don t leave the person feeling alone and without options. Don t make unrealistic promises. Role-play PROBLEM A student reports being a victim of bullying Ask them to describe the bullying incidents in more detail Emphasise the emotional consequences of bullying Suggest concrete actions and reassure that a solution can be found AIMS Location: classroom Characters: a student and a classmate Case-study: Matteo, in his second year of high-school, tells a classmate that when he gets on the bus to school, he gets insulted; sometimes he is tripped over to make him fall. He feels alone and scared, and he doesn't know how to react. His classmate encourages him to talk to an adult, like a teacher, to stop the bullying, reassuring him that it's not his fault and that he's not alone. Eventually, Matteo feels a little more relieved and considers asking for help. EXERCISE 1 Location: teachers' room of a high school Characters: a student and a teacher Case-study: a 16-year-old student enters the teachers' room visibly upset and finally decides to talk about a problem that has been tormenting her for some time. She tells her that she is a victim of bullying by some classmates who often tease and humiliate her. The teacher listens to her with empathy, offering her support and helping her to reflect on possible actions to take. She tells the girl about her personal experience of bullying and how the help of parents, teachers, and a course of psychological support helped her overcome the situation, inviting her not to face the problem alone. EXERCISE 2 352 extra