It’s that time of year again.Bright red and pink boxes of chocolate line store aisles. Flower sales are booming. Elementary school students are buying those little chalky candy hearts for their classmates. Across the country, …
When Love is a Battlefield: Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month
But for many teens and young adults, “love” can be dangerous. It is estimated that, in a single year, 1.5 million high school students nationwide will experience physical abuse from an intimate partner. Even more disheartening is the fact that 1 in 3 adolescents has experienced physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse from a boyfriend or girlfriend.
In addition to being the month of Valentines and Leap Days, February is also National Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. While dating violence can take many forms, combating it always begins with awareness. By talking about this issue, we can create safe environments for teens and young adults. We need to make it clear that abuse (whether physical or emotional) is not loving, and be aware of what it means to be in a healthy relationship.
Love may feel like a battlefield sometimes. But by increasing our awareness of dating violence and partner abuse, we can help put an end to the war.
