Have you ever been in a situation where something just did not feel right, but you were unsure how to respond? Many incidents of violence and harm occur in the presence of bystanders — people who witness an incident but are not directly involved.
Bystander intervention is the interruption of potential harm or violence by someone who witnesses the incident. 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. Bystander intervention is also leadership and helping behavior. You are in a great position to role model helping behavior in order to make our campus safer for everyone.
Sometimes in the moment, it can be hard to know exactly how to respond.
The CARE Model is an easy-to-remember acronym that outlines four strategies for taking action when harm or violence could occur:
You can use multiple strategies for a given situation depending on your comfort level and personal style. It is important to keep your own safety in mind any time you are choosing to be an active bystander.
Bears That CARE is a program on campus that offers workshops on bystander intervention facilitated by peer educators.
Witnessing or hearing about violence can be an upsetting experience. Here are some things to keep in mind when you're supporting a survivor.
