Three important rules for being an active bystander. If the survivor wants to seek medical attention or report the assault, you can offer to accompany them wherever they need to go (e.g., hospital, police station, campus security, etc.). "The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." The answers won't change what's happened. Below is a description of how individuals can be active bystanders when faced with the emergence of bias in interpersonal interactions. Earlier this month we used active bystander training as part of our new Sexual Harassment Prevention content, because it’s been shown that active bystander training works. The CARE Model is an easy-to-remember acronym that outlines four strategies for taking action when harm or violence could occur. Allow the survivor to share what they want, when they want. It can be people on the sidelines of the Boston Marathon or dancing on the floor of the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando. This also gives the targeted person space to say, “I don’t know you” or choose to engage with the bystander. Challenge statements of self-blame. Help calm strong feelings. Pay attention to your own needs - this could mean setting boundaries, taking extra time for activities you enjoy, etc. Name or acknowledge an offense. • Interpret it as a problem: Do I recognize that someone needs help? Other times, it means asking friends, staff, or the police for help. It is important to keep your own safety in mind any time you are choosing to be an active bystander. While protesting is one method of demonstrating your anti-racist stance, becoming an active bystander, or standing up against irregular acts of racism, can also help in not only further preventing this culture of silence against racist or discriminatory actions and behaviors. Being an active bystander means being aware of when someone’s behaviour is inappropriate or threatening and choosing to challenge it. An active bystander DOES SOMETHING ABOUT IT! The Mandala Project offers workshops to teach you how to be an active bystander and feel comfortable in challenging behaviour you feel is inappropriate. When it comes to intervening safely, remember the four Ds – direct, distract, delegate, delay. Before stepping in, try the ABC approach. You can take action to prevent violence. If they would like, you may call the 24/7 urgent support Care Line at 510-643-2005 together. When we take action, we … positively impact not only the people experiencing, but also those committing a harmful act. Affirm that they deserve support, and offer the option of connecting with resources. If needed, seek outside resources to help you get through this difficult time: you could talk to a counselor, your community, a close friend, or hotline - just make sure that you respect the survivor's privacy. Why is it important to act? Visit sa.berkeley.edu/btc to learn more and request a workshop. Breaking It Down Bystander intervention can also be thought of as a leadership and helping behavior. We are not looking for people to step into every situation, but stepping up when and where you can. Don't press for details. These suggestions encompass a variety of ... is intended to provide some tools for being an active bystander while recognizing that there is You're not alone, this is more common for many of us than you might think. It is common for Responsible Employees to be unsure of what to say. An active bystander is someone who says or does something when they see harassment and discrimination. Do not investigate the incident, press for more information, or take actions to resolve the matter yourself. And now, we’re showing how active bystanders can have an impact that reaches beyond preventing harassment. Strategies in the Moment. You might be attempting to better understand or get control over the situation, but "why?" Learning to recognise when someone is in danger and how you can intervene safely is an essential skill. Sometimes, we may only be able to watch helplessly. Regardless of which way you choose to be an active bystander there are three important rules. Safe: Keep yourself and others safe. When this happens, we will decide to do or say something (and become an active bystander), or to simply let it go (and remain a passive bystander). Sometimes, a situation just does not feel right. Assess the risk of direct intervention. Know Your Anger and Be an Active Bystander Don Meichenbaum, Ph.D., Research Director Etiony Aldarondo, Ph.D., Executive Director . For appointments call 510-642-1988 (Mon-Fri, 9am-4:30pm), A toolkit for participants in virtual classrooms and meeting spaces, Copyright © 2020 UC Regents; all rights reserved, When someone you know or care about experiences a form of sexual violence or sexual harassment, you may experience a range of feelings, including anxiety about how best to help them. I also recognize that there are a multitude of reasons for why folks do not intervene. Do not pressure them to take actions, or tell them what they "should" do. PLEASE GET IN TOUCH TO BOOK YOUR SESSION. Bystander intervention is a great tool and has the power to transform our campus. You can be an active bystander online by using the suggestions in the toolkit and video. Interrupt the behavior. If you do not feel comfortable doing this directly, then get someone to help you such as a friend or someone in authority. WE ARE DELIVERING ‘ACTIVE BYSTANDER’ TRAINING REMOTELY DURING THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK. You should tell the person about your obligations, and can offer them the option of connecting with a confidential resource such as the PATH to Care Center. Many incidents of violence and harm occur in the presence of bystanders - people who witness an incident but are not directly involved. It’s important to note that being an active bystander often takes privilege. The PATH to Care Center has downloadable resources on their Support Someone webpage to help you respond compassionately when someone discloses dating/intimate partner violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment, and stalking. Use body language to show disapproval. Breaking the silence - preventing harassment and sexual misconduct. How You Can Intervene Safely: If such messages are constantly reinforced within our community, we can shift the boundaries of what is considered acceptable and problem behaviour can be stopped. Realize that your feelings are valid. The latest information about how UC Berkeley is responding to the COVID-19 situation. Racism, bullying, sexual harassment and other inappropriate behaviours contribute to a toxic culture. At some point, we will register someone in danger. Create a distractionDo what you can to interrupt the situation. Research shows that bystander intervention can be an effective way of stopping sexual assault before it happens, as bystanders play a key role in preventing, discouraging, and/or intervening when an act of violence has the potential to occur. Almost by definition, an active bystander is a person who chooses to “act in the moment” when he or she witnesses problematic behavior, Dr. McElya said. The following additional suggestions may help you support someone. #selfcare. Distract: you can engage the person being targeted to distract and deescalate the situation. As long as they meet the required standards, we then accredit those individuals to deliver Active Bystander to your teams. Tell the survivor that you believe them. It might be comments made by a friend that you feel are inappropriate or you spot someone being harassed at a party or club. When this happens, we will decide to do or say something (and become an active bystander), or to simply let it go (and remain a passive bystander). Express care and concern for the person's safety and well-being. Be an Active Bystander We can all be bystanders. Have you ever been in a situation where something just did not feel right, but you were unsure how to respond? It is also referred to as being an active bystander - someone who notices the potential for harm to occur and takes action to interrupt the situation and prevent harm. The, Addressing Sexual Violence & Sexual Harassment, Ways to Help Someone and Be an Active Bystander, Coordinated Community Review Team (CCRT) and Core Team, Special Faculty Advisor to the Chancellor on SVSH, Urgent 24/7 Support Care Line: 510-643-2005, Responsible Employees Gold Folder: Responding to Disclosures of Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment, Nondiscrimination Policy and Accessibility. Learn how to be a prosocial, active bystander and respond compassionately when someone you know tells you about their experience of SVSH. Workshops are designed to equip all students with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to be an active bystander. Remember, being an active bystander is not a superhero approach, and not only in terms of physical safety. If you are concerned for the safety of yourself or others, you can choose a more indirect form of being an active bystander. Being an active bystander can make all the difference and save lives. As a leader or member of a student organization, you are in a great position to role model helping behavior in order to make our campus safer for everyone. When someone you know or care about experiences a form of sexual violence or sexual harassment, you may experience a range of feelings, including anxiety about how best to help them. Witnessing or hearing about violence can be an upsetting experience. And remember, never put yourself in danger. Tip: You can ask the survivor if they would like to speak with a confidential advocate at the PATH to Care Center. Frequently asked We can all be bystanders. Distract 4. Bystander is a word used in emergency services to mean an innocent person who is in the proximity of an incident. The accreditation process begins with intensive ‘train the trainer’ sessions and a quality control assessment at the end. Check in with the person to know if they are comfortable having this conversation where you are, or if they would like to find a quieter or more private space. The responsibility for the assault lies with the person who caused the harm, regardless of the survivor's actions leading up to, during, or after the incident. Active bystanders are persons not directly in the incident who speak out about and/or engage others in responding against derogatory behaviors. Let’s recap the four Ds of bystander intervention: 1. The PATH to Care Center on-campus can be a resource for you if you are looking for consulation or help while supporting someone who has  experienced violence. At some point, we will register someone in danger. Intervene safely. If someone approaches you to discuss an incident of SVSH, you can respond with care and compassion. Every day events unfold around us. You can become part of the solution in making the Berkeley community safer and more inclusive for everyone. Bystander intervention is the interruption of potential harm or violence by someone who witnesses the incident. Contact the Office for the Prevention of Harassment and Discrimination. Know how to intervene. questions may be interpreted as blaming or skeptical. Publicly support an aggrieved person. Direct. If you hear, “I don’t see your color” an active bystander or active self could respond, “That expression stops us from talking about how difficult it can be to live in this country while black;” or “I want you to see me and my [part of your identity]. Come along to this short session to find out why this happens and what it means to be an active bystander. Inform the person of confidential resources available to them. You can call the 24/7 Care Line for urgent confidential support directly, and connect the person to an advocate on the phone. Learning to recognize when someone is in danger and how you can safely intervene in potentially dangerous situations is an essential skill that will help you and your friends stay safe. questions, How the Don't be a passive bystander!1. Only intervene if safe to do so. You have the opportunity to be an active bystander – by being aware that someone’s behaviour is inappropriate or threatening, you can choose to challenge it. How to be an active bystander How you respond as a bystander will depend on many factors including who is involved, the severity of the behavior, and the setting in which the incident occurred. Being an active bystander requires a lot of emotional labour, which is why it’s important to pick and choose your interventions wisely! 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