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Teen Dating Violence:

What is teen dating violence?

Teen dating violence is a pattern of destructive behaviors used to exert power and control over a dating partner. Dating violence occurs when a person in a current or past dating relationship uses physical, sexual, verbal, or emotional abuse to harm, threaten, intimidate, or control the other person in the relationship

Signs of abuse

  • Checking your cell phone or email without permission
  • Constantly putting you down
  • Extreme jealousy or insecurity
  • Explosive temper
  • Isolating you from family or friends
  • Making false accusations
  • Mood swings
  • Physically hurting you in any way
  • Possessiveness
  • Telling you what to do

How to help:

  • Believe your friend’s story
  • Make sure they are safe
  • Let them know they don’t deserve to be abused
  • Ask them lots of questions to get them to think about the problem.
  • Ask them what their options are and what they can do. (Stay, leave, talk to partner, get advice)
  • Let them know that abuse almost always gets worse in a relationship if ignored.  If the abuse is to stop, the person being abused has to be willing to take actions to end it.
  • Encourage them to get help

Community Resources:

  • Call 911 in an emergency
  • Counselors, Nurses or other school personnel
  • Women in Need – (972) 772-3000
  • National Teen Dating Hotline – 1-800-799-7233

Internet Resources

www.loveisrespect.org

www.thehotline.org

Family Resources: