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What Can You Do to Stay Safe?
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Depression is pretty common. And doctors know how to treat it. You can go to a therapist and
talk about your feelings. Therapists can teach you better ways of thinking about your life so that
you’re not depressed all the time. They can also teach you better ways of dealing with bullies, so
your original problem gets better, too.
Sometimes, doctors can also give you antidepressants if they think medication is right. Anti-
depressants are pills that change how chemicals in your brain work. They help lift your mood and
get back to a normal life.
If you or anyone you know ever seriously thinks about suicide, get help immediately. Call the
police or a hotline (listed in chapter 3). Tell a parent or adult at school. Whomever you tell will take
immediate action and get you help. You may think your life is terrible, but you can get help and be
happy again. Just don’t give up!
IF YOU SEE BULLYING
Even if you aren’t being bullied, you can still fight it. Maybe you’ve watched a friend get bullied. Or
you’re friends with a bully. You don’t have to sit by and just let it happen.
Seeing someone else get bullied can be scary. You feel bad for the other person. You might also
be scared that the bully will turn on you next. So you just stay quiet and don’t say anything.
Challenge yourself to tell the bully to stop. That lets her know that people watching aren’t
cheering her on. Or try to talk to the bully about something else. You can distract her and get her
to forget what she was doing in the first place.
Standing up to a bully is a big deal. If you’re too scared, see if you can get some friends to help.
If several of you stand up for the person being bullied, the bully is less likely to start hurting you
instead.
You can always tell an adult, too. A teacher, parent, paraprofessional, or anyone else around
can really help. They have the power to stop the bully and to figure out what is going on. And you’ll
stay safe by staying out of the bully’s way.
Know the Warning Signs of Suicide
Suicide is a tragedy. And suicides caused by bullying can be prevented. There are often clues that
a young person is thinking about suicide. If you notice anyone doing any of the following things,
tell an adult right away:
• Talking about death a lot, or talking about dying
• Hurting themselves, such as cutting, doing a lot of drugs, or taking huge risks
• Saying good-bye to people, even though they aren’t leaving
• Saying they can’t handle life anymore or that the world would be better without them