Activities from the Civic Budget project:
‘YOU ARE NOT ALONE! Psychological first aid for children and young people’ – Debate with young people about the problem of hate speech and cyberbullying.
The problem of hate speech and cyberbullying, is currently one of the main threats among young people. Peer psychological violence takes away young people’s sense of security. Young people experiencing hate speech and psychological violence are most often reluctant to report the problem.
On 17.03.2025, a debate on hate speech, cyberbullying among young people was held at School Bursa No. 5 in Lublin. The meeting was attended by young people aged 15-20. Young people participated in a prevention and information panel and a survey.
Participants learned how to respond to heist and how to help those affected by cyberbullying. They also heard about the psychological damage and trauma caused by heist.
The prevention and information panel was led by specialists from the Crisis Intervention Centre in Lublin: Marlena Grenda pedagogue/first contact worker of the CIK and Karolina Tyszczuk intervener/first contact worker of the CIK.
During the meeting, the majority of the young people admitted that they had experienced or had experienced in the past heckling and cyberbullying by their peers. Participants mostly talked about:
- ridicule,
- using private photos,
- harassment in forums, closed groups or on social media.
They also provided their comments via an anonymous questionnaire.
The basic conclusion that summed up the debate was:
It is necessary and worthwhile to talk about problems.
Find a trusted adult who understands the danger and provides help, support. No one, ever, should be left alone with a problem – if you are experiencing any form of violence, crisis, have a problem that you find difficult to cope with on your own – we are waiting for you:
Crisis Intervention Centre in Lublin, 6A Probostwo Street: 81 466 55 46
24-hour helpline for people in crisis: 733 588 900
Helpline for children and adolescents (Mon-Fri 2pm-2pm, Sat-Sun 9am-2pm): 789 777 981