Submitted by Help Now of Osceola County
Love is Respect 2023 theme “Be About It” is rolling throughout February to help raise awareness for Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.
Help Now of Osceola’s Primary Prevention team is opened the month with Orange Day on Feb. 1, bringing attention to a cause that affects 1 in 3 teens. Those teens will experience physical, sexual, or emotional abuse prior to becoming adults according to dosomething.org.
Out of 15.3 million high school students in the U.S., around 1.5 million, have experienced a form of physical abuse from their intimate dating partner. Some studies have shown that rates of emotions and psychological abuse were even higher than physical abuse, per youth.gov.
Violence is 100% preventable. With proper resources and educational tools, a positive change and movement can be created on all levels. If preventative factors are not met for ending teen dating violence, adolescents can be exposed to adverse physical and psychological affects. Some long term affects can include projecting emotions in various forms of violence, like physical harm to themselves or others, alcoholism and drug use, thoughts of suicide, and increased chances of developing anxiety, depression, and other major psychological disorders.
One of the many root causes of violence is observation and the normalization of violence. More often than not, many children and teens succumb to becoming victims of domestic violence in the home. Surviving in a violent environment can sometimes lead to victims themselves mirroring the same violent behavior and tendencies, or finding a dark hole to hide and disappear in. Why? It’s because it’s all they know. As they absorb or they hide, the psychological consequences slowly develop waiting for a moment to be released or projected on their own relationships.
Changing the dynamic and ending teen dating violence must start right now, in the present. Creating a safe space to express emotions, understanding of red flags and tactics abusers utilize in all aspects, and becoming a support system for those in need.
Check back each week in February for more on Teen Dating Violence Prevention Month.
