On Thursday, September 20th, Sudah Dong had the opportunity to attend the Islamic Book Fair 2023 at Istora Senayan for the “Bicara Diam” talk show. Sudah Dong was joined by Erlangga Publishing House, Brisia Jodie, and Ms. Belynda Agustya – Child & Adolescent Psychologist, to share insights about the dangers of silence in cases of bullying. In front of an audience of more than 150 people, including parents and educators, concerns were voiced about bullying victims and witnesses choosing to keep their problems to themselves, which allows bullying to thrive in their environment.
Research shows that more than half of bullying incidents cease when a brave upstander intervenes with the bully. However, fear, shame, and an unsupportive environment often lead witnesses to conceal the bullying they’ve observed and become bystanders. Creating a supportive environment is the responsibility of everyone, not just the perpetrators or victims of bullying but all parties involved. It is crucial to establish a safe ecosystem for every individual, especially children in their developmental stages. We all share the same responsibility as upstanders to break the cycle of silence in cases of bullying around us.
In collaboration with Erlangga publishing house, Sudah Dong launched the “Anti-bullying Guide” book in 2022 to help more people across Indonesia understand bullying and choose to become upstanders in the fight against bullying. The printed version of the “Anti-bullying Guide” book can be found in various bookstores and your favorite online marketplaces.
