PREVENTING AND COMBATING BULLYING: AN ANALYSIS OF HELP TEAMS

Bullying is one of the biggest challenges faced by schools, profoundly impacting the emotional health and development of students. Recognized as a form of systematic violence by the World Health Organization (WHO), bullying generates serious consequences, ranging from anxiety and social withdrawal to long-lasting psychological problems. In Brazil, the National School Health Survey (PENSE, 2022) reveals that one in five young people practices bullying. This study aims to discuss strategies to prevent and combat bullying, focusing on the implementation of Help Teams, a form of youth protagonism that promotes healthy coexistence and reduces violence. The research was conducted through a qualitative approach, based on literature review and analysis of documentary and legislative data, including studies by Tognetta (2022), Loch et al. (2020), and Allen and Kern (2017). The results indicate that Help Teams are an effective strategy to improve the school climate and the well-being of students, providing a reduction in cases of bullying. However, implementation faces challenges, such as a lack of resources and the need for continuous training of educators. The study concludes that, for schools to become spaces for welcoming and preventing conflicts, a collective effort by the school community, institutional support and well-applied public policies are necessary, with youth protagonism as a fundamental tool.