If you are in Canada, you can call the Kids Help Phone for help and support.
If you are LGBTQIA, you can contact the Trevor Project. They offer the Trevor Lifeline for crisis and suicide prevention at 866-4-U-TREVOR (866-488-7386).
Sadly, effective anti-bullying tips for kids to use are not numerous on the Web, and the United States lacks a general anti-bullying hotline. Here, we are accumulating a list of links and tips for kids who are being bullied. Please do not think that you’re alone or that you need to give up. Remember, the first thing that you need to do is to tell an adult whom you trust about what is going on.
Stories from the bullied and, yes, bullies
- From CNN: “How it feels to bully and be bullied”
- LZ Granderson, ESPN senior writer and all-around badass, writes, “Being bullied is hell, but life gets better.” He oughta know.
- “Memoirs of a Bullied Kid,” from Single Dad Laughing
- “Tales of the Schoolyard–Confession: I Was a Bully” from Shannon Des Roches Rosa via BlogHer
- The “We Got Your Back” project collects stories from the LGBTQIA community for sharing with LGBTQIA youth for support and encouragement
Some (possibly) helpful informational links
- From the Human Rights Education Center of Utah, some ideas for dealing with bullies.
- Get the message–it’s true–that it gets better (this is especially for GBLT people but applies across the board): Dan Savage’s It Gets Better Project
- Check out Over the Line, which addresses issues related to cyberbullying, texting, and sexting and crowdsources stories from young people to help derive what it means to cross the line in cyberspace.
- Suggestions for adults on the autism spectrum for recognizing an adult bully…should be helpful to anyone with battle scars who remains wary as an adult.
Dan Savage’s It Gets Better project is an incredibly awesome resource for gay kids who are being bullied: http://www.youtube.com/user/itgetsbetterproject
Thanks for doing this!!!
Excellent addition. Thanks so much for reminding me. I’ve added it to the list.
I recommend the martial arts – not to fight the bullies – but as a way to build your confidence and abilities. Be successful somewhere else – a place where you can learn a lot about yourself, improve your mind, body, focus, and confidence… away from school. Focus on your training there. Work your anger out in your workouts – direct your energy toward your own self improvement. Work your way up in the belts. You will respect yourself. Never brag about your abilities. Your reputation as a martial artist will accompany your accomplishments, but there is no need to brag or show it off. You don’t need to hide it either. Just be.
School sports can just be another place for the bullying to continue. Find a martial arts studio separate from school. Let it be a haven, a refuge, a place to heal and grow strong. You can do it.
When looking for a studio, make sure you find one that you feel comfortable in. It is all about the instructor. They should be encouraging but not afraid to challenge you. Instructors should NOT be intimidating. (If they are – find another studio.) They should be welcoming – though a good instructor may be serious. They have to keep the studio safe so they may be firm and discourage horsing around.
I wish you the very best of luck. Also, know this – IT WILL GET BETTER. NOW IS NOT FOREVER. Sometimes in life you just have to get through the tough times – but it will get better, and better, until it is really great. I know this – so will you!