Offer sympathy
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It’s important for people to know that they’re not alone. If you can’t interrupt bullying in the moment, go up to someone who was bullied afterward to offer your comfort and support.
crowdsourced tips
Tell someone who has been bullied that you see what’s happening to them and feel bad about it. Help them see that they don’t deserve the way they are being treated.
It’s okay if you don’t have the answers to the problem. Just being there and being supportive will make a difference.
Give someone a smile. For someone who’s feeling down, sometimes all it takes is a small acknowledgement that someone else sees them.
Be someone’s support system. If your friend is depressed, sometimes just sitting with them and offering sympathy can help. You can’t fix everything, but you can make it easier by lending a shoulder or an ear.
Don’t focus on fixing the problem, focus on how you can be supportive.
Being there for someone doesn’t mean solving the problem with one goal in mind. It means being an emotional supporter.
Things to say to the person being bullied: “I’m here for you,” “You didn’t deserve that,” “You are a good person in a bad situation,” “That person was wrong to do that,” “Let’s tell someone who can help,” “Let’s find someone that you can talk to about this.”
Consider phrases like, “Hey, it’s okay, you don’t need them,” “You didn’t deserve that. How are you feeling?” “I’m sorry, I feel bad, I don’t want this to be happening to you but I don’t know what to do about it,” or “If you need any help, I’m here.”