Thread by @DrPetra

Today's #ResearchTip is if you notice someone being bullied,harassed,sidelined,badmouthed or otherwise disadvantaged, be an active bystander! Not sure what that means? Find out in the thread #AcademicChatter #AcademicTwitter #AcademicMentalHealth #gradschool #PhDChat #HigherEd /1

What does being an active bystander involve? It means noticing if someone is at risk (even if they are not aware of it themselves) and either checking they're okay, helping them move to safety, acting as a witness, or intervening to prevent a situation escalating or continuing /2

For example if you noticed a colleague was being harassed you could
- check they were okay
- suggest you go somewhere else
- position yourself in ways that puts a block between an abuser and their victim
- note what's happening
- acknowledge it is not okay
- avoid escalation /3

With abusers it may be direct or indirect, on or offline, but you can also approach them by
- distracting them so victims can escape
- alerting them to you noticing what they are doing and that it is not okay
- sanctioning their behaviour (if you're in the position to do so) /4

Your safety is also crucial, and you don't want to make things worse so you and the victim are now in danger.
However being an active bystander doesn't mean you do nothing, it may mean you calmly focus on the victim but later alert others to what the abuser was doing /5

Care is also needed so you don't speak over or for someone or take over in situations they are handling even though they are awful. In those cases being present (if wanted) and acting as a witness may be more appropriate /6

Being an active bystander means knowing what is not acceptable behaviour within universities (or other work or study spaces)and applying judgement to what kinds of interventions are needed and by who (if not you). /7

Academia is particularly troubled by abuse, which institutions, funding bodies and research councils have failed to adequately address in spite of occasional promises to do better.
This means it's down to you to take action when you see someone in danger or treated unfairly /8

This may even be something you notice when you're doing an online chat, something you pick up from emails, or when you visit a department. Even if it's not somewhere you regularly work or study if you sense something isn't okay, ask if someone's all right /9

Active bystanders validate and reassure victims/survivors. The more there are the harder it is for bullies and harassers to thrive (especially, but not only, those in powerful positions). Normalise boundary setting and making it clear unacceptable behaviour won't be tolerated /10

Whenever I teach this people always say 'but what if you misread it?' 'can't you even make a joke these days?'
And the answer is if you calmly check and you misunderstood people will tell you.
Although sometimes you still know it's not okay, so you can stay vigilant /11

Another thing I'm asked is about people making things worse. That is a risk, so it's useful to have training in being an active bystander. Marginalised people frequently note that 'helpers' may be oppressive and make things worse. You can still help but you need to know how /12

You can request active bystander training though the quality of this varies and isn't always suited to diverse audiences. It also isn't an excuse for organisations to avoid addressing things that lead to active bystanders being needed or expect staff to do more work for free /13

I cover more on what issues to be alert to, and how to be an active bystander in #BeingWellInAcademia with key safety advice to ensure when you help others you look after your own mental and physical health /14