Bullying: If you're a father or a guardian, this is what you should be aware of

O “bullying is not a joke, it is not a test of courage and much less something that should be accepted in silence.” Through the campaign “Bullying is for Weak”, the Public Security Police (PSP) warns of the importance of recognizing, preventing and combating bullying, promoting respect, empathy and the courage to act, having left, this sunday, some advice to parents, in charge of education, school community and victims. 

Through a Facebook publication, PSP explains which behaviors should be attentive and makes recommendations on how to help victims.

In this way, those in charge of education and the school community should attend to whether they exist “food and/or sleep disturbances”, “disinterest in activities that captivated”, “breakdown of school income”, “change of friends” and “suicide attempts and/or threats”. 

They must likewise reveal the PSP, be aware of some signs and indications that the victims may present. They are: “ Haematomas, cuts, scratches”, “headaches or stomachaches”, “school material damaged or disappearing”, “anxiety or depression” and “aggressiveness, shyness or isolation”. 

But how can parents, educators and the school community help victims? 

In the same publication, the Public Security Police sees five key recommendations for parents, in charge of education or school community to help victims: 

• “ do not discriminate or censor; 
• Include victims in group activities; 
• Encourage the practice of activities they like; 
• Promote self-esteem; 
• Do not share content representative of these behaviors on the internet”. 

What if he's a victim? 

The security force also gives advice to victims, highlighting in this post on Facebook what they should do if they are targeted by cyberbullying. 

They are: 

• “Do not respond to messages from the aggressor;
• Makes screenshots of comments, messages or threats you may suffer;
• Talk to a trusted adult, like your parents or teachers, they'll help you; 
• Block and report; 
• Remember that you are not alone”. 

To the victims, the PSP also stresses the need not to isolate themselves: “Try to be accompaniedhaving someone on your side can give you more strength to face the situation.”. 

Another of the recommendations is to seek “psychological help”, since “talk to a psychologist can help to deal with feelings and develop strategies to tackle the problem.”. 

The same Facebook publication ends with the PSP remembering that “the police affected by the Safe School Program Teams (EPES) are always present and available to receive complaints, advise and support victims and their families.”. 

These complaints “can be made either by in-person form with the EPES or in a police station“, as well as through dedicated email: