What you can do if you or your friend is being bullied
Report it. If you are being bullied, don’t keep it to yourself. Talk to a trusted adult or friend. Address the issue as soon as possible to stop it from happening again.
Learn the signs of bullying. If you see these actions happening to you or someone you know, remain calm and tell an adult.
Stand up. If you feel safe, speak up and say, “Stop, don’t bother me.”
Be a friend. If you see someone being bullied, try to be a friend. When it’s safe, help them leave the situation. Include the person being bullied in social activities.
What you can say to those who experience bullying
- “I’m here for you and I want to help.”
- “You didn’t deserve to be treated that way.”
- “You are a good person in a bad situation.”
- “It was wrong of that person to do that.”
- “Can I help you find an adult to talk to?”
What you can do if you know someone who is being bullied
- Connect with them during class breaks, even just to say “hi"
- Invite them to sit with you at lunch
- Walk with them to class
- Invite them to do homework with you and a group of friends
- Ask them to play a video or card game during free time
- Show them a video or photo that will guarantee a smile or laugh
- Be patient and respectful
Find more information about what you can do to help your peers.
If your friend is being bullied in their relationship
Sometimes, people can be bullied in their romantic relationships. It is possible your friend(s) may not even realize they’re being bullied or in an unhealthy or abusive relationship.
Let your friend know what you’ve noticed and that you’re there for them if they need someone to talk to. Sometimes just listening and being supportive can really help.
If your friend is in an abusive relationship and decides to leave the unhealthy relationship, help them connect with a safe adult to develop a safety plan, which is a personalized, practical plan to help keep them safe. A personal safety plan will address their physical and emotional safety and may include information about how to leave the relationship and find support legally or with safety and law enforcement.
Learn more about how to help a friend in an unhealthy relationship or friendship.
If someone is struggling, there are ways to get help
If there has been a crime, or someone is at immediate risk of harm or in immediate danger
Call 911.
If someone is feeling hopeless, helpless, thinking of suicide
To talk to someone now, call or text 988 or chat with 988 Lifeline Specialist online.
- For Spanish speakers, call 988 and then press 2 or text AYUDA to 988.
- For people who are deaf or hard of hearing
- Use your preferred relay service or dial 711 then 988.
- You can also use 988 Videophone
Learn more about 988, a free and confidential support resources are available to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
You can also call the Trevor Lifeline for LGBTQ Youth: call 1 (866) 488-7386, text 678-678, or chat with a crisis counselor online.
For trans peer support connect with the Trans Lifeline: call 1 (877) 565-8860.
If you or someone you know is being bullied, don’t stay silent
StopBullying.gov is a government resource that helps provide action steps and guidance for teens to stop bullying. For more information in Spanish.
PACER’S National Bullying Prevention Center has tools for creating positive change and standing up against bullying. For Spanish speaking youth The PACER website offers information for students who are Spanish speakers.
If you want to host or organize a community event
Visit the Community Action Toolkit from the StopBullying.gov training site! The toolkit includes information to create a community event using bullying prevention and response strategies.
Mental health and bullying
Learn how bullying impacts mental health in children and teens. Discover tools and support options to help young people heal and grow stronger.
Bullying research and statistics
Learn more about bullying across the state of Massachusetts. Understanding the prevalence, causes, and impact of bullying is key to creating safe, supportive environments for all youth.
Learn more about navigating relationships
Learn about healthy and unhealthy relationships, signs to look out for, and how to talk about your relationship with people you care about.