If you think someone you know is being bullied or harassed there are a lot of ways in which you can help them.
Bullying and harassment are contrary to the Equality Act 2010 and the GSA's Dignity and Respect at Work and Study Policy.
Understanding the behaviours associated with bullying and harassment is a good place to start. Most people will be able to describe what has or is happening to them and how it's making them feel.
Understanding the behaviours associated with bullying and harassment is a good place to start. Most people will be able to describe what has or is happening to them and how it's making them feel.
Bullying is offensive, intimidating, malicious or insulting behaviour involving the misuse of power that can make a person feel vulnerable, upset, humiliated undermined or threatened. Harassment is when someone intentionally or unintentionally violates a person’s dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment, which interferes with an individual’s learning, working or social environment.
Harassment may involve sexual harassment or be related to a protected characteristic such as age, disability, gender reassignment (covers Trans and Non-binary), pregnancy or maternity, marriage and civil partnership, race, ethnic or national origin, religion or belief (covers all faiths/beliefs and none), sex or sexual orientation. Please see the 'Harassment' Support section for further information on support.
Think
- Are they in immediate danger? If they are in immediate danger or seriously injured, you can call 999 (or 112 from a mobile)
- Find a safe space. If an incident has just happened try and find somewhere they feel safe.
- What are bullying and harassment? It might be useful to think about what bullying and harassment are and how some of the behaviours are described.
- Are they in immediate danger? If they are in immediate danger or seriously injured, you can call 999 (or 112 from a mobile)
- Find a safe space. If an incident has just happened try and find somewhere they feel safe.
- What are bullying and harassment? It might be useful to think about what bullying and harassment are and how some of the behaviours are described.
Talk - If someone you know has been affected, you can encourage them to seek support. Alternatively you make an anonymous disclosure which will allow us to investigate if there are multiple instances in one area.
Help them report - If they want to, and you feel able to, you can help them report the incident or incidents via GSA’s Report and Support tool.
GSA Procedure. If they choose to make a formal complaint to the GSA about a student or member of staff there are procedures which set out the steps they will need to follow.
There will be limits to GSA's ability to progress reports that involve criminal activity and we would always encourage and support Police involvement.
Seek Support - There are a number of specialist organisations that provide specialist support, including counselling for those affected by harassment. You could encourage them to reach out to such support. register online via: https://live.uniticms.com/gsamhw/ to request a counselling appointment.
- https://respectme.org.uk/https://respectme.org.uk/ Scotland's Anti Bullying Service
- https://victimsupport.scot/information-support/crime-information/crime-types/bulling/
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Take care of yourself. It’s important that you take care of yourself. If you’ve heard something distressing or if something is troubling you, the GSA's Counselling Service offers confidential help to students. Email: counselling@gsa.ac.uk.
If you are in immediate danger or are seriously injured, please call 999 (or 112 from a mobile).
If you need immediate support or feel in crisis, we have listed several emergency services contact details on GSA's external website that you may find helpful.
Students can access information on GSA's student services here
Staff can access information on GSA staff services here
Students and staff can also access support through: Papyrus Hopeline247 - Prevention of young suicide. This is a 24/7 service for young people under the age of 35 who are experiencing thoughts of suicide, as well as for anyone who is concerned that a young person could be thinking about suicide. Call 0800 068 41 41, text 07860039967 or email pat@papyrus-uk.org to stay safe or to keep someone safe from suicide.