Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month

February 27, 2019

Teen dating violence can be defined as the physical, sexual, psychological or emotional abuse in a dating relationship. This type of violence can happen over time and sometimes continues to get worse. Dating abuse can happen to anyone and doesn’t affect one specific gender, sexual orientation, socioeconomic standing, ethnicity, religion, or culture. Every year around 1.5 million high school students experience physical abuse from a dating partner. Yet, often times this problem goes unreported because many teens are scared to tell their family or friends. Only 33% of teens who were in an abusive relationship told someone about the abuse. This lack of awareness is a problem, and recognizing the signs of abuse and bringing attention to this issue is imperative to ending teen dating violence.

It’s also important to note how dating violence impacts runaway and homeless youth. They are at an increased risk of experiencing dating abuse. The National Resource Center on Domestic Violence published a Runaway and Homeless Youth Relationship Violence Toolkit. This resource was put together by advocates, for advocates, to help organizations better understand and address the intersection of runaway and homeless youth and intimate partner violence. This toolkit can be used by service providers to help increase safety, create prevention strategies, and help heal and treat those who have experienced violence.

Module 4 of our free Let’s Talk: Runaway Prevention Curriculum also helps educators, mentors and community members teach youth how to recognize and build healthy relationships.

Together, we can work on recognizing the signs of teen dating violence and teaching healthy relationship skills in order to raise awareness and end the cycle of teen dating violence.

—

If you or a young person you know is in crisis, reach out to our compassionate crisis services team by calling 1-800-786-2929 or chat with us online. We are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with free, confidential support to youth and families in crisis across the nation.

Share This Post

Recent Posts

August 2023 Volunteer of the Month

Volunteering allows individuals to make a positive impact on the lives of others. At the National Runaway Safeline (NRS), our volunteers play a crucial role in supporting youth and families in crisis. This month, we are proud to spotlight Brooke, our Volunteer of the Month, who embodies compassion and selflessness. 

The National Runaway Safeline’s (NRS) volunteers selflessly share their time and talents to support youth in crisis. For Ashley, our July Volunteer of the Month, volunteering with NRS is personal

Mentally Preparing for Back to School Season

The start of the school year is upon us, bringing with it a mix of excitement and uncertainty. Whether you’re a student returning to your familiar classrooms or starting at a new school, the back to school transition can stir a range of emotions in any of us. 

To help prepare you for that first day and beyond, we’re sharing tips on how to tackle the changes and enjoy the school year.

July 2023 Volunteer of the Month

Many people find volunteering provides them with a sense of accomplishment and pride. It can be deeply satisfying to give back to others and to know you’re making a difference in people’s daily lives, on the environment, in a cultural setting, and more.