Universitas Mercu Buana Yogyakarta (UMBY), in collaboration with Universitas Bosowa (UNIBOS) and SMAN 2 Makassar, held a Community Service (PkM) activity themed "Recognize, Manage, and Prevent: Psychoeducation on Bullying and Emotion Regulation for Adolescents" on Thursday (September 10, 2026).

Thirty students participated in the event, which took place at SMAN 2 Makassar. The primary agenda focused on enhancing students' understanding of the dangers of bullying while equipping them with emotion regulation skills to foster a safe and psychologically healthy school environment.

The community service activity opened with remarks from the Principal of SMAN 2 Makassar, H. Syafruddin M., S.Pd., M.Pd., who expressed his appreciation for the implementation of this psychoeducation program.

"We hope this activity will raise student awareness, foster an attitude of mutual respect, and help create a safe school environment free from bullying," he stated.

Meanwhile, the Head of the Community Service Team, Sowanya Ardi Prahara, S.Psi., M.A. from UMBY, emphasized that efforts to prevent bullying in schools cannot rely solely on theoretical understanding.

"Preventing bullying requires more than just explaining what bullying is. Students also need the ability to recognize and manage their emotions, especially when facing conflict and pressure. Therefore, this activity combines education on bullying with practical emotion regulation skills that can be applied immediately," said Sowanya.

She added that this collaboration between the universities and the school is expected to serve as a first step toward building a safer and more caring school culture.

"We hope that students will not only be able to protect themselves from bullying but also possess the courage to care and take action when they see their peers experiencing bullying," she added. This inter-university community service team consists of Sowanya Ardi Prahara, S.Psi., M.A. (UMBY), Patmawaty Taibe, M.A., Ph.D. (UNIBOS), Juwandi, M.Si. (UMBY), and Muh. Fitrah Ramadhan Umar, S.Psi., M.Si. (UNIBOS).

During the program, participants received instruction on two main topics. The first session was led by Sowanya Ardi Prahara, who presented material titled "Understanding Bullying: Forms, Roles, and Impacts on Adolescents." Students were guided to recognize various forms of bullying—ranging from physical, verbal, and social to cyberbullying—and to understand the roles played by victims, perpetrators, and bystanders.

The second session was conducted by Patmawaty Taibe, who covered stress management and emotional regulation, enabling students to handle pressure, anger, and conflict without reacting impulsively or aggressively.

In addition to the presentations, students had the opportunity to engage in hands-on practice with breathing exercises and expressive writing, guided by Muh. Fitrah Ramadhan Umar. These simple techniques were designed to help students calm themselves and express their feelings in a healthy way.

To support the program's sustainability, the team introduced a "Safe Corner" facility. This space was designed as a quiet area—equipped with seating and educational materials—where students can take a break when experiencing emotional stress before returning to class activities.

The activity was well-received by the participants. Afif, a student from class 12-2 at SMAN 2 Makassar, shared how his understanding had broadened following the educational session.

"I now better understand that bullying isn't just physical violence; it can also take the form of teasing, ostracizing a friend, or harassment via social media. I also learned that, as friends, we shouldn't just stay silent when we witness bullying," Afif stated. Dirga, another student from class 12-2, echoed this sentiment, expressing appreciation for the hands-on practice sessions.

“I found the breathing exercises and the activity of writing down my feelings very beneficial. I learned simple ways to calm myself down when I’m feeling stressed or emotional,” Dirga said.

As a follow-up measure, the program encourages optimizing the "Safe Corner" (Pojok Aman), strengthening the role of teachers in responding to bullying, and fostering a school culture that encourages speaking up, mutual respect, and mutual care.

Through this initiative, UMBY, UNIBOS, and SMAN 2 Makassar demonstrate a shared commitment to supporting the social-emotional development of adolescents and creating an educational environment that is safer, healthier, and free from bullying.