February is the month of Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. For some background information, 1 in every 12 teen in the US goes through physical abuse while dating, and 1 in every 10 teen in America faces sexual abuse. This month is in hope that these stats decrease as teen dating violence can negatively affect a teen’s development of healthy sexuality, intimacy, and identity. The mental and physical toll is tremendous and leads to negative impacts throughout a person’s life. Some impacts can include an increase of a risk of physical injury, poor academic performance, substance abuse, and suicide attempts. This month is to raise awareness about what happens to around 33% of Americans when they are a teen, and to prevent future generations from experiencing this.
Education and open communication are crucial. Teens should know what healthy relationships look like—mutual respect, trust, open communication, and support. They also need to understand what is not acceptable, such as jealousy, manipulation, and intimidation. Schools, parents, and communities all play a role in providing teens with the tools they need to recognize unhealthy relationships and seek help when needed.
At Active Circle, our focus is the prioritizing mental and physical health of one’s self. This month we encourage everyone to know the impacts of teen dating violence and how to prevent it. If you know anyone who is going through this experience, we urge you to contact an adult or tell a trusted person. No one deserves an abusive relationship so creating conversations in an effort to educate young adults is essential. Active Circle understands this cause and this month we will be hosting a Teen Dating Violence Awareness Webinar in hopes to educate and prevent further teen violence.
This month reminds us that it’s essential to create safe, supportive spaces where young people can thrive in healthy relationships and be equipped with the knowledge and resources to protect themselves and each other. This month serves as an opportunity to educate young people, families, and communities about the signs of abuse, the impact it has on individuals, and the resources available for support.
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