We hope everyone’s had a great start to their summer! Thanks for checking out the June edition of RespecText. Read on for links, news and resources to help you help the teens in your life.
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Tools for Teens
- Sometimes you just need to take a break from a relationship. Here’s how to make the most of it – and make sure the break is the healthiest it can be.
- Many people who contact us about a friend or neighbor who is being abused want to call the police. That’s one option for help, but there are a few things you might want to consider first.
- Even relatively healthy relationships come to an end sometimes. Ask yourself these questions to help you decide if you should make it work, or let it go.
News Bits
- Campus sexual assault continues to be a widespread issue in our country, and fortunately more and more people are paying more attention. There have been many conversations about how to reduce assault, and this program conducted among first-year female students at three Canadian campuses was reportedly successful. As the article states, programs like this won’t solve the problem, but they’re an important piece. We don’t disagree, but we do recognize that reducing or ending violence of any kind requires a multifaceted approach.
- The practice known as “revenge porn”, or more accurately nonconsensual pornography – which is defined as the distribution of sexually graphic images of individuals without their consent – is a serious issue with devastating repercussions for victims. Fortunately, some web-based companies are stepping up their efforts to help protect victims. Google recently announced that they will honor requests to remove revenge porn images from Google Search results. They join other tech giants like Twitter, Facebook and Reddit which have implemented policies for or bans of revenge porn.
Advocate’s Corner
It’s officially summer! School’s out and hopefully everyone gets to relax (at least a little…). But lots of teens struggle with how to maintain a relationship without the daily structure of school, and they might be separated from their main support system during the summer break. We’ve got some info on our blog that might help you help your teen navigate a summer fling and stay healthy and safe:
- Who to Turn to When School’s Out: Even when you’re not in school, there are still people all around you who can be part of a support system
- Can Your Relationship Take the Heat?: What to think about if you’re staying together over the summer
- Flying Solo This Summer? Make It Count!: Not in a relationship this summer? No worries! Now’s the time to have fun and enjoy being single.
- Summer Flings and Relationships: On making that summer fling as healthy as it can be
- Healthy Relationship Playlist: Summer Edition: Just for fun, we put together this sweet summer playlist of songs that promote healthy relationships and dating behaviors. Check it out on Spotify!
Powerful Resources
Since we mentioned revenge porn above, we want to point you in the direction of another great resource. End Revenge Porn, which is run by the Cyber Civil Rights Initiative (CCRI), is a “one-stop shop for everyone that is involved in the war against revenge porn.” They offer support for victims, advocate for laws and educate the public about revenge porn. They also offer a crisis hotline at 1-844-878-2274.
If you have questions about dating abuse or healthy relationships, our loveisrespect advocates are here 24/7! Call 1-866-331-9474, chat at www.loveisrespect.org, or text loveis to 22522.
