Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month:
Every February, young people and their loved ones join across the country for a national effort to raise awareness about the issue of teen dating violence. This annual, month-long push focuses on advocacy and education to stop dating abuse before it starts.
This week I want to encourage everyone to: Talk to Teens
Everyone can make a difference by reaching out to young people in simple ways. As we interact with teens in our work or personal lives each of us can act on the stand against teen dating violence by:
- Discussing the warning signs of dating abuse (all kinds, not just physical abuse).
- Creating a positive connection to the issue – talk about the characteristics of healthy teen relationships, not just abusive ones – and use statistics sparingly.
- Talking about how the media portrays healthy and unhealthy relationships. For example, many popular movies, TV shows, commercials, books, and magazines portray stalking as romantic or harmless when it is actually very dangerous.
- Getting involved even if you don’t have a lot of resources – an information table, classroom discussion, or school announcement can get the conversation started.
Relationship Questions for Teens
Over 1/3 of high school boys and girls report being physically harmed by a dating partner in the last year. Unfortunately, only 33% of those experiencing abuse will tell anyone about the abuse. Domestic Violence is difficult at any age, but for teens just beginning to navigate relationships, it may be hard to spot abusive behaviors. Here are some simple questions you can share with teens.
- Are you frightened by your partner’s temper?
- Are you afraid to disagree with your partner?
- Are you constantly frightened by your partner’s behavior, especially when they have treated you badly?
- Do you have to justify every place you go, everything you do?
- Does your partner constantly put down?
- Are you afraid to break up with your partner because they have threatened to hurt themselves?
- Do you find yourself changing your behavior out of fear or to avoid a fight?
If one or more of these questions applies to their relationship, they may be in an abusive relationship.
WARNING SIGNS
Here are some signs to look for:
I. She/He apologizes for their behavior and makes excuses for him/her.
2. She/He loses interest in activities that they used to enjoy.
3. She/He stops seeing friends and family members and becomes more and more isolated.
4. When your daughter and her boyfriend are together, they call the other one names and puts her/him down in front of other people.
5. He/She acts extremely jealous of others who pay attention to the other one, especially other guys/girls.
6. He/She thinks or tells your daughter/son that you (her parents) don’t like him/her.
7. He/She controls their behavior, checking up on her/him constantly, calling and texting them, demanding to know who she/he has been with.
8. She/He casually mentions their violent behavior but laughs it off as a joke.
9. You see him/her violently lose their temper, striking or breaking objects.
10. She/He often has unexplained injuries, or the explanations they offer don’t make sense.
I’ve attached a link below for parents and how to talk to their teens about dating violence.
https://turningpointnc.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/A-Parents-Guide-to-TDV.pdf
“It is vital that when educating our children’s brains, we do not neglect to educate their hearts.” ~Unknown
Thank you for reading this week’s FYI Friday. Please remember, if you or someone you know are a victim of Domestic Violence, we encourage you to reach out to us here at Haven.
If you are able, please call or see the messaging links above:
Haven Office: 918-554-2836
Text Line: 918.533.3070
Crime Victim Advocate: 541.602.0616
Program Website: https://havenprogram.com/
Program Email: havenprogram@estoo.net
Facebook: HAVEN Tribal Program, Twitter: @ProgramHaven, Instagram: HAVENTRIBALProgram.
Our advocates are here to help!
