The day is recognised by individuals and companies all across the world, with the movement spanning 25 countries! The first official International Stand Up to Bullying Day took place in 2008 and has been recognised each year since. The idea for the day came when a student in Canada experienced bullying behaviour for wearing a pink shirt. The movement takes note of this by encouraging participants to wear a pink shirt to show their support for the anti-bullying cause.
International Stand Up to Bullying Day, is also a great opportunity to share your support for anti-bullying in other ways such as:
- On social media
- Raising money
- Volunteering
- And more!
Bullying behaviour can negatively impact lives in many ways so it is definitely a cause worth getting passionate about!
On and beyond the day, we thought it would be useful to detail 3 ways you can help the anti-bullying cause throughout the year:
1. Know The Signs
If you want to help stop bullying behaviour, the first step is knowing the signs. For example, are any of the below happening to you or someone you know:
- Does anyone make nasty comments or call you names?
- Are you, or someone you know being made fun of for how you look or act?
- Do you seem to be isolated at work or school?
- Are rumours being spread about you or someone else?
- Has anyone physically hurt you on purpose?
- Do you receive nasty emails and/or text messages?
- Are you being subject to acts of intimidation at work or school?
- Have any of your personal belongings been purposely damaged?
- Do you ever feel anxious and afraid about school or work?
- Are you being ignored/purposefully left out?
For a full list of signs, check out this page on our website. A person experiencing bullying behaviour will often appear withdrawn and anxious, but everyone processes situations differently, so, if in doubt – reach out.
2. Use Our Resources
Our website has a huge selection of resources that you can use to help understand the actions you can take to support those affected by bullying behaviour. We also have lots of educational information that can help you to become a better Anti-Bullying advocate. Bullying doesn’t always happen in the same way, in fact there are lots of different types that people can experience. They can happen in a range of different scenarios and to a range of different people. The use of the internet and social media has also created new forms of bullying behaviours that might be harder to recognise if you aren’t educated on them (Catfishing, Ghosting, Doxxing etc), so our resources can be a source of guidance and support. Make sure you check out the rest of our site so you can become a better anti-bullying ally.
3. Be Proactive
Proactively supporting the anti-bullying cause is one of the best ways to help throughout the year. You can become an Upstander – someone who tries to help and support anyone experiencing bullying behaviour. An Upstander is someone who takes action against bullying behaviour. When an Upstander sees someone being bullied, they do something about it. They help to stop the bullying from happening, or they support the person who’s being bullied.
Another excellent way to proactively support the anti-bullying cause is to get involved. There are a number of ways you can Get Involved with us here at BulliesOut. We have opportunities to join our team, to become a member or why not let us inspire you with some fundraising ideas. From helping at a community event to volunteering in our Pre-Loved Charity Shop. You may want to cheer on a marathon runner or host our stand at an exhibition. Whether it’s hours, days, weeks or months, the time you give really does matter and can make a huge impact! Volunteering can give you a new purpose and can benefit you as well as the cause. By volunteering you can learn new skills and gain experience that you wouldn’t have otherwise. As a volunteer, you will meet others who also volunteer with us and this can lead to some great friendships! If you like a challenge, volunteering can be motivation to achieve new goals.
Conclusion
Overall, International Stand Up to Bullying Day is for a great cause. It helps to remind people of the effects of bullying behaviour and encourages us to take a stand!
You can keep informed and support Stand Up to Bullying by:
- Signing up to our mailing list
- Becoming a member of BulliesOut
- Following us on Social Media
- Fundraising for us
