Stop Bullying Now. Take A Stand. Lend A Hand.

How Health and Safety Professionals Can Help

1. Learn as much as you can about bullying.

• Read through Tip Sheets prepared for this Campaign. Some that are most appropriate for health and safety professionals are:
  1. What We Know about Bullying
  2. The Scope and Impact of Bullying
  3. Children Who Bully
  4. Providing Support to Children Who Are Bullied
  5. Roles for Health and Safety Professionals in Bullying Prevention and Intervention
  6. Working with Young People Who are Bullied: Tips for Mental Health Professionals
  7. Working with Young People Who Bully Others: Tips for Mental Health Professionals
  8. Bullying Among Children and Youth with Disabilities and Special Needs

• Read about cyberbullying among children and youth.
• Visit the Campaign's Starting a Campaign page to find books, videos, and other materials appropriate for professionals, or parents and children with whom you work. You might find it helpful to print out our fact sheet on Tips for Selecting Materials from the Resource List.

2. Serve as a resource to children and youth, parents, and other adults who may benefit from information about bullying.

Children, parents, and other adults may seek you out for information or assistance in dealing with bullying. You can be a vital resource!

• Where appropriate, talk with children and youth (and their parents) about bullying.
• Post Stop Bullying Now! Posters in your work space and use them as points of discussion with children and youth.
• Point parents to the Parents & Family page of the Stop Bullying Now! Web site.
• Make available Tip Sheets for youth and parents (e.g., consider having them available in a waiting room).

3. Be watchful for possible signs of bullying among children and youth with whom you interact.

• Talking openly with children and youth is important, but often children are reluctant to talk with adults about bullying that they've experienced or taken part in. Be vigilant for behaviors and other signs that a child might be involved in bullying.
• Read Warning Signs that a Child is Being Bullied for a list of possible warning signs that a child is being bullied.
• Read about Children who Bully for more about characteristics of children who bully, risk factors for bullying, and common myths about children who bully.

4.Take immediate action if you suspect bullying.

• Discuss your concerns with the child’s parents or guardians.
• Recommend appropriate treatment, referral, and management protocols for children who have been bullied or who have bullied others.
  

5. Work with school personnel and others in your community to prevent and reduce bullying.

All adults in a community have a responsibility to help keep kids safe and stop bullying among children and youth. How can you get involved?

• Work with others in your community to raise awareness about bullying. Consider establishing (or supporting) a community-wide task force.
• Encourage local broadcasters to play TV/Radio Public Service Announcements (PSAs) about bullying. Show these free PSAs at meetings in your community.
• Become a resource to local schools. Encourage them to develop comprehensive bullying prevention efforts. Share with them resources from the Campaign. Point teachers to the Educators page of the Web site and to bullying prevention programs and resources on the Starting a Campaign page. They might find the following Tip Sheets particularly helpful:
  1. Best Practices in Bullying Prevention and Intervention
  2. Misdirections in Bullying Prevention and Intervention
  3. Steps to Address Bullying at Your School: Tips for School Administrators
  4. Providing Support to Children Who Are Bullied: Tips for School Personnel
  5. Documenting Bullying at your School: Tips for School Administrators