Reporter
To some, February is the month of love, but for others it is the National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (Teen DV Month). Teen DV Month, which was a singular week until 2010 when Congress passed an act to expand it, aims to raise teens’ awareness about their own personal dating lives, as well as the signs that show a relationship might be turning abusive.
Extreme jealousy, constant texting, and controlling or agressive behavior are just three of the many signals that a relationship is turning abusive, according to health teacher Kim Palmer. “There are a lot of red flags in abusive relationships, but they typically don’t start off that way,” she said. “The relationship is not going to be 50/50, and one person has more control over the other.”
Ms. Palmer also said that teens are more likely to enter abusive relationships without realizing it due to their lack of dating experience. “Abusive relationships don’t necessarily have to have physical abuse: they can be emotional or sexual, and teens are much more susceptible,” she said. “When you are in an abusive relationship, there is a strong emotional connection, and it’s hard to break it.”
Students have been getting involved to help bring awareness to this issue. Senior Jasmine Allen is a member of Teen PeaceWorks, a club devoted to teaching students the severity of teen dating violence. Though she initially joined the club to be with her friends, she said it was a great decision, and wants to help more students discover the program. “After seeing what Teen PeaceWorks does and what they stand for, I’m glad I joined,” Jasmine said. “I’ve been a member for roughly a year now, and Jackie Ouellette and I are really trying to bring the organization to [NCHS].”
Jasmine says that Teen DV Month is one of the most important times for the club, and they are currently busy organizing activities and presentations for it, things she feels will help to prevent or put a stop to abusive relationships. “This is when we can really educate people about teen dating violence and try and make an impact on the statistics of these types of relationships,” she said. “Personally, I think these relationships are all too common with teenagers: though one in five high school students will report being physically and/or sexually abused, many go unreported.”
Ms. Palmer stressed the importance of understanding that abuse can happen to anyone, regardless of their age or gender. “We hear a lot about females being abused in a relationship but it does happen the other way as well,” she said. “Towards males, it is more likely emotional abuse, lots of manipulation. Verbal is a majority of the abuse, though there is still physical.”
The school provides several resources for students who find themselves in abusive relationships. Ms. Palmer suggests talking to the councilors, teachers, administrators, or the Domestic Violence Crisis Center. “These are all confidential, and they all aim to help the abusive situation or to find someone else who can,” she said.
Ms. Palmer’s advice to any teen who finds themselves in an abusive relationship is to tell an adult.“Reach out… and talk to an adult outside the situation. Remember that you are not alone, [and]that there are others who are going through something similar,” she said.
For more information about raising awareness for teen dating violence, visit http://www.teendvmonth.org/ and for more information about the signs of an abusive relationship, call 1-866-331-9474 or visit http://www.loveisrespect.org/.
