Love is respect – National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline

So you’re back to school now. Walking down the hallway with your new clothes on, seeing the friends you missed during the summer, and feeling confident. Then “the ex” walks by. Your heart jumps…..but not in a good way. At the end of the last school year you broke up with him because he had become very controlling and you found that you were scared to be around him. The summer was amazing because you were free and away from him. But now you’re back in the same school as him.

Some ways to stay safe would be to have a friend or two that you can walk with between classes. If he does approach you it might be a good idea to walk away. If you have plans after school make sure that you have a ride home so that you’re not hanging out outside alone. If you do feel threatened then it might be a good idea to talk to your school counselor about him. You should always be able to feel safe at school.

But most importantly, enjoy yourself and have fun during these next few years in high school.

admin guest bloggers, peer advocates

 

Hi Everyone,

I recently participated in It’s Time to Talk Day – a day for focusing on the issue of teen dating abuse hosted by Liz Claiborne and loveisrespect, National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline. I was really excited to be invited, but before taking part, I spent some time researching dating abuse and domestic violence. Though I knew it was an important issue before, I found some statistics at www.loveisrespect.org that surprised me. Did you know that 1 in 5 teens who have been in a serious relationship report being hit, slapped or pushed by a partner? But it’s not just physical abuse - 1 in 4 teens who have been in a serious relationship say their boyfriend or girlfriend has tried to prevent them from spending time with friends or family. When you put it that way, it’s easy to see that dating abuse probably effects someone in your life, whether you know it or not.

I hope you’ll take the time to visit the newly updated loveisrespect.org for info on dating abuse and healthy relationships, quizzes, the Teen Dating Bill of Rights, and if you need it, a direct link to live chat with a peer advocate. Please take the time to educate yourself. Even if you’re not in an abusive relationship, you may be able to help a friend or family member.

Thanks,

Camille Winbush 

*I’m featured in a new PSA for loveisrespect, National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline. Watch for it!

loveisrespect general, guest bloggers