February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month
What is Teen Dating Violence and How Common is it?
Teen dating violence is very common and it requires a coordinated community response. Each year in the United States at least 400,000 adolescents experience serious physical and/or sexual violence in a dating relationship. Teen dating violence occurs in relationships, both straight and same-sex. The violence can involve physical harm, emotional abuse and bullying, online harassment, such as using social media to embarrass or intimidate, and sexual violence. Sometimes the violence escalates beginning with jealous and controlling behavior, becoming emotional abuse, and then evolving into physical violence. Sometimes physical violence is immediate. This violence can have both a short-term and long-term impact including depression, anxiety, unhealthy behaviors such as smoking, excessive drinking, drug use, disruptive behavior such as lying, stealing, fighting, and sometimes even suicide. The violence that occurs during teen dating can influence future relationships because the foundation of trust and relationship has been damaged. Teen dating violence can lead to adult intimate partner violence and or sexual violence. Research indicates that youth who are victims of dating violence in high school are at higher risk for victimization during college. The trauma from teen dating violence is devastating to a teen’s sense of self and safety and the impact can last a lifetime.
What can we do to prevent this violence?
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has shared strategies for communities working to prevent teen dating violence. These strategies are anchored in best-practices and research. The strategies include teaching safe and healthy relationships. Understanding what a healthy relationship is required dialogue and conversation. Teens receive many messages about relationships and some of this information is based on unhealthy gender-norms. To counter these harmful messages, it is important for schools, families, and communities to actively engage teens in dialogue around healthy relationships. To be effective, the dialogue should include influential adults and men, such as fathers, coaches, teachers who can serve as prevention allies and role models. Schools should be safe places with plentiful information about healthy relationships and access to services for youth in need. Families need support, including financial help, to relieve the stress of economic insecurity that can underpin violence. The supports that strengthen a family empower healthy relationships.
What resources are available in Delaware?
Delaware has 24-hours hotlines for victims of dating and domestic violence; these hotlines help teens and adults by connecting individuals to local resources and supports:
New Castle County: (302) 762-6110
Kent/Sussex Counties: (302) 422-8058
24-hour Relationship Violence Hotline (en español): (302) 745-9874
Delaware also has 24-hour Rape/Sexual Assault Hotlines for teens and adults:
YWCA SARC (New Castle/Sussex Counties): (800) 773-8570
Contact Lifeline Crisis Helpline (Kent/Sussex Counties): (800) 262-9800
A New Online Resource for Teens in Delaware:
The Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence (DCADV) is also working with community advocates and programs to develop and host a healthy teen relationship website called Safe & Respectful. The website will be launching in February 2019, during Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. Safe & Respectful will be a resource for teens and adults working with teens.
What resources are available nationally?
There are a number of national resources that teens can access via phone or online:
24-hour Relationship Violence Hotline: (866) 331-9474
24-hour Relationship Violence Text Line Text: LOVEIS to 22522
24-hour Relationship Violence Online Chat: www.loveisrespect.org
National Sexual Assault Hotline (operated by RAINN)
24-hour Sexual Assault Hotline: (800) 656-HOPE
24-hour Sexual Assault Online Chat: www.online.rainn.org
Everyone deserves respect. Everyone deserves to be safe. If you or someone you know is in an unhealthy relationship, please contact a Delaware or National hotline for help and support.
Guest Blogger: Sue Ryan, the Executive Director of the Delaware Coalition Against Domestic Violence