Witnessing harm or feeling uneasy about a situation where potential harm could occur can be difficult to handle. It is important that we all know how to intervene and have different tools to be effective when we do. Often, we may see something and not know what to do.

Here are a few approaches to intervening, known as the 4 Ds of bystander intervention. These techniques give you tools to make a difference no matter the situation or your comfort level. The most important thing is to find a technique that works for you!

• Direct – When you feel safe and comfortable, address the behavior directly.
• Distract – Use a distraction to pull someone away from harm or from harming another.
• Delegate – Bring others' attention to harm that is occurring and decide as a group how to intervene, or involve an authority.
• Delay – Provide support after you suspect harm has occurred.

Learning these strategies—or a combination of them—and applying them to harmful situations can help create a culture where we all feel empowered to step in when someone in our community needs help.

To learn more and engage with this information in greater depth: