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 verbal violence to harm or intimidate an individual. Examples include:
- Hurtful words
- Name calling
- Insults
- Threats
- Unconsented teasing
- Creating a hostile setting with words
Physical Bullying
When an individual uses their body or object to physically harm someone else intentionally. Examples include:
- Punching
- Pushing
- Kicking
- Theft or destruction of someone's belongings
- Spitting
- Bruising another individual
Social Bullying
The intention of harming someone’s reputation or relationships. Examples include:
- Excluding
- Spreading rumors
- Public humiliation
- Exposing someone's secret with the intention of harming them
- Gossiping
Online Bullying
Also known as cyberbullying, to harass or target people with behind a screen without receiving instant consequences. Examples include:
- Sharing embarrassing photos online
- Spreading rumors to instigate
- Sharing someone's private info online (doxxing)
- Making online threats to someone
- Impersonation
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 Can You Help as a Bystander
You can intervene safely by
- Directing action: Ask the victim if they're OK, be aware of negative or violent behavior, harmless approach, stick to exactly what's happened without exaggeration
- Distract: Interrupt the perpetrator, start a conversation that would direct the perpetrator away from their target, take the potential target to safety or out of the conversation with the bully
- Delegate: If you feel like you might struggle with intervening, have someone else step in like a trusted adult or staff. It's better to be in a group so the bully feels more threatened by numbers
- Delay: If you feel that a situation shouldn't be intervened at a certain time, step away and check up on the victim later
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
- Encourage professional help for the person
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.
