Ask For Help - Chrissa Girl of the Year 2009

If you’ve tried standing up for yourself and a bully isn’t backing down—or if bullying or cyberbullying ever makes you feel unsafe—it’s time to talk to an adult.

Feeling guilty or embarrassed? Don’t. What’s happening isn’t your fault, and you’re doing the right thing—and the brave thing—by asking for help. Here’s how to get the support you need from a parent, a teacher, a coach, or another trusted adult:


	Write down what the bully has said or done, and write down what you have done to try to stop the bullying. Print out any threatening or hurtful e-mails you’ve received. Those notes and printouts will come in handy when you are talking to an adult. Do you want the adult to step in and do something about the bullying? Or are you just looking for advice? Be specific about what you need.		If you’re nervous about talking face-to-face, write a note or an e-mail. You can even write an anonymous note asking the adult to be on the lookout for the bullying. Some kids will say you’re tattling. There’s a big difference between tattling and telling. When you tattle, you’re trying to make someone look bad and get him or her in trouble. When you tell an adult about bullying, you’re trying to stop someone from hurting you or someone else. It takes courage but chances are, you’re not the only one who is bothered by the bully’s behavior. If you speak up, others may, too.