Protecting Teens from Dating Violence [Video]

The teenage years are an exciting time. “It could be a first date, maybe a first boyfriend, maybe, you know, the first time they were allowed to go out,” said injury prevention educator Tracey Thornton. However, a teens perception of a relationship may come from learned experience. “Maybe their family, maybe their parents, maybe their siblings. And these may not be normal factors for dating.”

Dating violence can take different forms. “You know, violence, the first thing that comes to your thought is hitting or pushing or shoving or black eyes and bloody noses, but the more common form of dating violence is psychological. It’s emotional. It’s verbal. It’s belittling people. It’s making them feel that fear that they can’t talk to their friends, or they can’t talk to their family,” said Thornton. “I want your passwords, I want to be able to get into your phone, I want to be able to look at things, I want to do this and that. These are not normal things for a healthy relationship.”

It’s important for kids to have a trusted adult who they can speak with who can look out for mood and behavioral changes. “You really need that trustworthy person to say this is not a normal relationship. This is unhealthy. This is not a healthy relationship,” said Thornton. You can get help by calling the domestic violence hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233).

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