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13 solutions to bullying that could be applied at school

13 solutions to bullying that could be applied at school

March 19, 2024

Bullying or bullying is a reality that, although it is not new or recent, has traditionally received little attention until relatively few years ago. It is a phenomenon that causes great suffering and severe repercussions to those who suffer, both short and long term .

That is why it is necessary to develop and generate mechanisms to prevent, detect and eliminate it from our classrooms. In this article, we will propose twelve anti-bullying solutions or strategies that could be applied at school.

  • Recommended article: "The 5 types of bullying or bullying"

Bullying or bullying

Bullying or bullying is considered to be any act or situation in which one or more subjects carry out different types of actions with the purpose of dominating and causing pain or suffering to another or other subjects, establishing a relationship of dominance or superiority between Assaulted and assailant and performing such acts voluntarily and persistently over time.


The type of acts carried out can vary enormously, being both direct and indirect: physical aggressions, insults, humiliations, robberies, identity theft, recording and publication of some element that supposes a vexation of the affected one, creation of networks to ridicule him or even induction to the delinquency or the suicide. Currently all this type of action is punishable by law, being able to face the aggressor or the legal responsible for it to different types of punishment.

The consequences for the victims of this may be as we have said previously devastating. There are usually adaptive problems, increased level of anxiety, perception of ineffectiveness or helplessness, less concentration, loss of interest, decreased self-esteem and social participation. Also insecurity, sudden school failure (which is itself a possible indicator), depressive disorders, lower perception of social support and difficulties in relating and trusting others.


In some cases, suicide attempts may appear. It can also happen that they learn the behavior they have had with them and then replicate it with other people.

That is why stopping this type of phenomena is essential, since they generate suffering and restrict the development of the child or adolescent in question.

13 strategies to solve bullying

Prevent and solve situations of bullying is not an easy task: it requires a systematic study of the different cases and the mechanisms through which it occurs to subsequently develop strategies to prevent harassment from appearing or eliminate it in cases where there is . It is necessary to work in depth and in a constant way different aspects .

Below we reflect thirteen useful solutions and strategies to fight against the scourge of school bullying.


1. Sensitize, raise awareness and equip the school institution and the teaching staff with tools

It is necessary to sensitize the educational institutions themselves and the teachers , which in many cases lack sufficient knowledge about bullying to detect it. In addition, although fortunately it happens less and less, in some cases the situations of harassment are actively ignored, allowing their occurrence without repercussions (with a phrase such as "they are children's things").

Conducting training meetings for the center's professionals, teaching them how to detect cases and signs of abuse and the importance of acting against them and developing or following protocols in this regard is fundamental

2. Involve the class group

The class group is the context where acts of aggression usually occur , there being a large number of witnesses of the act who witness or even participate in the aggression. In fact, the aggressor often repeats the harassment since this gives him acceptance or attention from the rest of his peers. That is why it is extremely important to work with the class group as a whole to prevent bullying, making the reaction to bullying negative and do not thrive in violent and intolerant attitudes.

3. Not making bullying a taboo

It is common to see bullying as an unpleasant phenomenon that is not usually talked about openly and that tends to hide, this can make the students themselves can not recognize it. To combat this silence, it is necessary to talk openly about what bullying supposes, organizing classes where people talk about it, its consequences both in the short and long term and consider possible measures to avoid it.

4. Emotional education and values ​​education

One of the most direct ways to prevent acts of bullying is through the application of tutorial action plans where there is room for elements focused on emotional education and student values.Working on values ​​such as tolerance or respect is fundamental, as well as teaching how to manage and express one's emotions (which in turn facilitates the acquisition of empathy). An example of activity that can favor it is through the theatrical representation of different situations, the viewing of films that deal with the subject in all its harshness or the discussion around important moments or topics for each child.

5. Realization of cooperative activities

In order to awaken the empathy of the group and favoring that harassment does not flourish, it is very useful to carry out group activities in which the class as a whole has to work together, establishing relationships among them to achieve a common goal. The realization of group games or projects in which all the components of the group have to be coordinated It is a good example of this.

6. Avoid mediating between harassed and harassing

The idea of ​​mediation is a very useful and very positive practice to face conflicts maintained between two parties considered equal to each other. However, it is contraindicated in cases of school bullying, since in this situation there is an unequal relationship between assaulted and aggressor that will not allow a correct operation of the practice.

7. Work with the aggrieved party

The victim must be treated in such a way that he does not feel abandoned but supported and accompanied , making him see that things are being done to solve his situation. It is essential that you express your emotions, feelings, thoughts and doubts without putting them into question, through methods such as the empty chair or role-playing games.

8. Families: communication and participation

The families of the students also have an important role when it comes to helping to detect and treat cases of harassment . It is essential the existence of a fluid communication between the communicative and family institution, in such a way that both nuclei have information regarding the situation of the minor. Likewise, advising families and teaching them different educational guidelines that can improve the situation of the minor (whether assaulted or aggressor) is of great importance. It may also be necessary to resort to criminal proceedings to resolve the case.

9. Take into account the aggressor

One of the most common mistakes that are made during interventions in case of bullying is the fact of focusing only on the party attacked. Although it is the element that will receive the most attention once the harassment is established, It is also necessary to work with the aggressor if we want to solve the case of bullying and stop the aggressions . It is necessary to make him see the possible consequences of his actions (for example, making him understand how the victim should feel) and try to awaken in him empathy and commitment.

10. Creation of anonymous reporting methods

Often, many children do not dare or do not want to report cases that they have seen or lived due to fear of reprisals or because they do not want it to be known that they have informed them. It is necessary to make it clear to minors that those who denounce bullying are not snitches, but are collaborating so that one or several people stop suffering its effects. In any case, it is very useful to create anonymous reporting methods in such a way that anyone can report a case without being identified. An example is an anonymous report virtual mailbox.

11. Establish evaluation and intervention protocols and procedures and include them in the teaching plan

Although nowadays most centers already do it, It is essential that clear and concise protocols are available that explain what procedures must be carried out in cases of harassment . It is also recommended to use test and assessment surveys such as the CESC (Conduct and Social Experiences in Class).

12. Psychological therapy

The use of psychological therapy can be fundamental to overcome the consequences of bullying, especially in regard to the victim. By this means you can perform various techniques that will help increase the self-esteem of the affected, teach social skills and mechanisms to deal with conflicts, help you to express yourself and contribute to the disappearance or decrease of apathy, anxiety, feelings of helplessness and hopelessness or possible depressive or personality disorders derived from bullying.

13. Follow up

Even if a case seems resolved, it is necessary to carry out a continuous follow-up over time in order to verify that the harassment has stopped completely and does not repeat itself , as well as possible consequences of harassment in the medium and long term. Establishing periodic meetings with the aggressor and the aggressor (separately) at least during the three months after the end of the harassment and maintaining communication with the families is essential.

Bibliographic references:

  • Castillero, O. (2017). Cyberbullying: Harassment in the network. Analysis and intervention proposal. University of Barcelona.
  • Del Rey, R., Elipe, P. & Ortega-Ruiz, R. (2012). Bullying and Cyberbullying: Overlapping and Predictive Value of the Co-occurrence. Psicothema 24, 608-613.

Ways to Stop Bullying (March 2024).


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