About Our Program
MAHA's Bullying and Suicide Prevention Program, funded through the Chicago Department of Public Health’s Violence Prevention initiative. It aims to increase awareness, expand access to support, and strengthen intervention efforts across the city. This program aligns with CDPH’s Bullying Prevention Project (BP) goals by promoting effective strategies that improve community, public, and provider responses to bullying and suicide.
What is Bullying?
The repetitive coercion of harming another individual by another individual or group, where one dominates the other. The behavior could be psychological, verbal, or physical.
Verbal Bullying
Repeated use of hurtful words, insults, or threats to harm or intimidate an individual.
Physical Bullying
When an individual uses their body or object to physically harm someone else with the intention to inflict pain onto them.
Social Bullying
The intention of harming someone’s reputation or relationships through exclusion, spreading rumors, or public humiliation.
Online Bullying
Also known as cyberbullying, to harass or target people with harsh comments behind their screens without receiving instant consequences.
Impacts of Bullying
Withdrawing from usual settings like a workplace or school
Isolation
Afraid of setting boundaries
Low self-esteem
Signs of anxiety and depression
Difficulties with self-care and/or sleep
Disconnectedness from mutual relationships
How to Detect Bullying
Invading personal space
Turning alliances in groups against the target
Spreading false rumors about the target
Actively excluding the target
Humiliating or silencing the target in private or in front of others
Disrespecting boundaries
How to Self-Care for Yourself
After a traumatic experience, it is important to take care of your health. Some tips included are...
To do physical exercises like weightlifting, cardio, or pilates
Prioritizing your sleep
Consuming a healthy and nutritious diet
Prioritizing your hygiene
Following creative/artistic hobbies, such as cooking, music, and art
Join CCBSP to connect, learn, and take action together to prevent bullying and suicide in Chicago communities!
What is Suicide?
Warning Signs of Crisis
Self-harm
Substance use
Extreme mood swings
Withdrawing from relationships with friends & family
Taking dangerous risks
Impulsive/reckless behavior
Drastic change in eating or sleeping
Making a plan or researching ways to die
What to do During a Suicide Ideation
Don't make a decision today
Avoid substance use
Talk to a loved one
Build a support system
Reach out to a Crisis Lifeline
Contact professional support
Open up and be honest
Be around other people
Become aware of your triggers
How to Help Someone in Crisis
Empathize with them
Use "active listening" on them
Recognize the warning signs
Prevent them from isolating themselves and let them know they're not alone
Take their statements seriously
Trust your instincts
Be non-judgemental and try your best to not criticize them
Encourage professional help for the person
Midwest Asian Health Association (MAHA) is the only organization serving the Asian American population selected to convene the Chicago Collaborative for Bullying and Suicide Prevention (CCBSP).
Collaborating with the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH), we aim to provide meaningful impact across the City of Chicago through resource development, community awareness, and education opportunities. One of our first steps is working together to identify agencies, groups, and individuals that may have an interest in these important matters to create the Chicago Collaborative for Bullying and Suicide Prevention (CCBSP). Interested groups and individuals are invited to meet and develop a shared vision of what we plan to achieve by working together.
For more information, please contact Wenjia Dou at wenjiadou@maha-us.org
Are you experiencing mental health-related distress or are worried about someone who may need support in crisis?
Call or text 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or chat 988lifeline.org to get access to 24/7/365 crisis resources and confidential, free support from a trained professional.
