If you are under 18

The rest of this site is written for adult readers because it discusses war, grief and mental health. There is nothing explicit in it, but it is not meant for you to browse. The idea is for everyone, though, and here it is.

Is this what a human being does?

Eight small things

Ask it before you speak, before you reply, before you click, before you decide. Then try one of these.

1. Sit with the one who is alone. Lunch, the bus, a party. Say: "Mind if I sit here?" That is the whole move.
2. Say "that's enough." When a group piles on someone, you don't have to win, and one person not laughing changes the room. Say: "Okay, that's enough."
3. Defend them in private if public is too hard. Message them: "That wasn't okay. I'm sorry nobody said it."
4. Do one invisible kindness. No post, no screenshot. Do it. If it feels good, fine; do it again when it doesn't.
5. Give one conversation your whole attention. Phone face down. Ask: "What's the hardest part of this week?" Listen to the end.
6. Say a specific thank-you. To a teacher or a parent: "When you ___, it changed ___."
7. Tell the truth when lying is free. Say: "Actually, that was me." Do it even when no one would ever know.
8. Give the credit away. Say: "That was her idea." Let it belong to the group.

If someone is being hurt

If someone is being hurt, tell a trusted adult. You do not have to handle it alone, and not every hardship is a test. If you are struggling, in the US you can call or text 988. Elsewhere, findahelpline.com lists services by country.