Trauma Support Community Check-In for August 2024 - Don't Be A Bully Month

Hello everyone,

welcome to this month's check-in! This month is "Don't Be A Bully Month"!

Bullying can happen to everyone at any age. It can have a massive impact on someone's mental health and can even cause depression, PTSD, and anxiety.

Why do people bully? As a few examples, people can bully someone out of jealousy, because they feel threatened, or because they want to express power. Often, bullies have been victims before, which can cause a negative cycle. 

You can recognise bullying for example when people claim credit for the work of their target, spread rumours about them, or turn people against the victim. As a bystander, you could try to use humour to redirect the conversation, walk with the victim to help diffuse potential interactions and check in with the bullied person to let them know that you support them. (source 1)

And if you're bullied yourself, you could try the following strategies:

• Decide when you respond; sometimes it might be better to avoid the person.
• Make eye contact to signal that you're self-confident.
• Try to make space between you and the bully and limit your interactions.
• Document the offences to use when filing a complaint or reporting the bully's actions. 
• Consider working with a mental health professional to cope with the mental effects of bullying.
• Talk to your co-workers/students, friends, and family to feel supported and not alone. (source 2)

Dealing with a trauma-related mental health disorder can make you an easier target for bullies and being bullied can be traumatic. Therefore, there is a connection between bullying and trauma. If you're reading this and have experienced bullying, please know that you're not alone. We're here for you.

Trauma Support Community Check-In for August 2024

1) What is your favourite strategy to stay cool during hot days?

2) Have you ever experienced bullying yourself or as a bystander? How has it impacted you?

3) What has helped you to deal with bullies, as a victim or bystander?

If you have a question you'd like me to ask at the next check-in, please let me know!

Take care,

audienta

You can get added to or removed from the trauma support taglist here.

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