Online guide to bullying: do not underestimate the problem

First of all we shouldn't underestimate the problem because

• bullying is not a childish action
• bullying often hides real criminal actions such as theft, extortion, vandalism, robbery and sex crimes
• bullying not only harms the victim, but everyone that it touches: the family, the teachers, the witnesses
• bullies are more likely to grow up committing abuses
• bullying may cause damage to the victims' physical, emotional, and intellectual sphere, as well as to their relationship-building skill.

A set of rules to follow:

Don'ts:

• don't offend others, especially the most vulnerable
• don't' hide from your parents that someone is hurting you
• don't lie
• don't be hard on school-mates you don' t like
• do not presume upon weaker school-mates.

Do's:

• always tell your parents
• tell someone if you are being bullied, if you've witnessed any bullying behaviour or if you've heard about it
• if possible, defend the school-mates who get bullied
• treat all your school-mates equally
• ask your teachers, non-teaching staff and your mates for help, if someone is threatening you.

To get help immediately you can call:

113 Polizia di Stato (ItalianNational Police)

112 Carabinieri

114 Emergenza Infanzia (toll-free children helpline)

19696 Telefono Azzurro (toll-free helpline available to all children and adolescents below the age of 14)

199.15.15.15 Telefono Azzurro (the institutional line for minors over 14 and for adults)