Helping Others

Sometimes it's hard to know how to help in certain situations. check out the information below to find ways you can act to help others.

Be a Pioneer: The 5 Step Challenge

Notice the event

Interpret it as a problem

Assume personal responsibility

Know how to help (keep reading)

Be a Pioneer and help

How to Help: The 5 d's

Distract:

Interrupt the harmful behavior, not necessarily confront it. Something to take away the attention of the situation you are concerned about.

Example:
Start a conga line to distract in the moment and take attention away from the concerning situation (going to need a low embarrassment threshold for this one!).

Approach a situation and ask "what time is it" and distract from a tense moment.

Direct:

With this, make sure that you are safe first. This method includes responding directly to a situation. When responding directly to a tense situation, call out the behavior and not the person themselves. Assess your personal safety when using this method.

Example:
Approach a situation of concern, and tell the parties involved that you are concerned.

Approach and address concerning speech.

Delegate

Having others help or reaching to others to help in a situation

Examples:
You call 9-1-1 in an emergency.

You are concerned about a friend and fellow student and don't know what to do. At TWU we have the Office of Civility & Community Standards, which focuses on helping students. You can report and incident or let TWU know that you are concerned about another student.

Delayed Response

Sometimes it can be hard to act quickly and in the moment. Delayed response is when you follow-up with the person(s) you are concerned about and check on their wellbeing and if there's anything you can do now to help.

Example:
The situation happened so fast you didn't have time to react. Check-in with the person you are concerned about and see what you can do now to help.

Document

Perhaps one of the most important things we can do for our friends and strangers. Visual evidence is extremely helpful and provides visible context of what happened in a situation.

Examples:

If your friend tells you they are in an abusive relationship - document what you witness. Documenting could be videos, photos, keeping track of when the abuser calls/shows up, etc.

If you are in a public space and see something concerning happening to another person. Video evidence can be helpful (and sometimes crucial) in providing clear and visible context of what transpired in the situation. If you video and someone needs immediate help, call 9-1-1 or delegate someone to call 9-1-1. Use the video to help the person you are concerned about.

Find what strategy you feel most comfortable with. Remember you can also ask others to help along side you, so you don't have to do it all by yourself. Often times others around you are thinking the same thing, and often times when 1 person steps up and helps, others follow.

Personal safety is a must, so whatever way you choose to help, make sure it is safe for you to do so.