How can I help?

If you think your friend is being bullied, try and talk to them about it. Let them know that as a friend, you want to help sort the situation.

Tell them that you'll be there for them whenever they need to talk, and take their problem seriously. Just knowing that there's someone on their side can help people who have become a target for people who bully.

It's also important to tell them that it's not their fault they're being bullied, it's the person bullying who has the problem. They don't have to put up with it.

It can be difficult when you know someone is being bullied. What if it's one of your friends doing the bullying? You might not want to fall out of favour with them.

Think about it - do you want to be mates with someone who causes others so much stress and anxiety?

Bullying isn't a friendly thing to do. It's wrong and shouldn't be accepted by anyone.

If your friend bullies other people:

• Talk to him / her about it - ask them why they do it
• Do they have problems at home? Are they being bullied?
• Ask them if they know how awful the people they bully feel
• Remind them they could be expelled from school or fired from work

When you know someone is being bullied, you need to handle things carefully. Think about the following:

• Don't ignore it when you know your friend is being bullied - be friendly
• Don't get into a fight on your friend's behalf; your friend doesn't need you to get into trouble
• If you see someone is in danger, run and get someone immediately
• If you can, try and act as mediator between your friend and whoever is picking on them - that means talking to them both and seeing if you can reach an agreement

If you feel it's safe, have a quiet word with the person who is bullying your friend, especially if it's someone you know quite well. Ask why they're doing it and what can be done to stop it. If you're worried about your safety or not sure how they'll react, don't approach them.

Tell someone

It may be that your friend doesn't want to talk at all and feels embarrassed. If you've tried to encourage them to talk to someone without success, don't just ignore it - things could get worse.

Why not have a discreet word with a teacher, parent or friend and mention your friend's situation?

If you're worried that your friend will be angry because you told someone, mention this to your teacher, adult or manager at work. They'll know what to do.