How to Help a Teen Deal With Bullies

Bullying can have serious, long-term effects on the victim. Bullied teens have an increased risk of developing anxiety, depression and other mental health problems. Teen victims often feel alone, ashamed and helpless when bullied, and may hesitate to ask for help. If you believe your teen is being bullied, it is important to sit down with them and discuss the problem. Once the issue is out in the open, you can help your teen develop a plan for dealing with the bully.

Instructions

    • 1

      Recognize signs that your teen is being bullied. A sudden change in behavior should be a tip-off that something is wrong. Bullied teens often become worried or moody, withdraw from previously enjoyed activities or friends, show a drop in grades and complain of physical ailments.

    • 2

      Explain what bullying is. Your teen may feel that he is not being bullied because nothing physical happens. Tell your teen that any repeated aggressive behavior is considered bullying. The behavior doesn't have to be physical -- it includes behavior such as name calling, spreading gossip about others and purposefully ignoring and refusing to speak with someone. The relentless nature of the behavior is what categorizes something as bullying.

    • 3

      Reassure your teen that the bully's behavior has nothing to do with her. Bullies are typically insecure themselves, and use bullying as a means of exerting control over others.

    • 4

      Encourage your teen to walk away from any confrontation with the bully. Responding, either angrily or trying to lighten the mood, will only antagonize the bully.

    • 5

      Report the bullying incident immediately. If the bullying happens at school, he should report it to an administrator; if it happens in the neighborhood, he needs to let you know right away. You can then decide if you would prefer to contact the parent directly or your local law enforcement agency. Unless dealt with immediately, bullying is likely to continue, so it is important for your child to report each incident.

    • 6

      Stay with friends. If a bully has your teen marked as his victim, she should make a conscious choice to hang out in a group while walking to school, hanging out during lunch and other times when she may be confronted. Bullies thrive on exerting power over someone they perceive as powerless, so hanging with a group makes your teen a less attractive victim, as well as provides witnesses to any bad behavior.

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