Each February, young adults and their loved ones nationwide raise awareness about teen dating violence through Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM). This annual, month-long effort focuses on advocacy and education to stop dating abuse in teens before it starts. Approximately 1 in 3 U.S. teens will experience physical, sexual, or emotional abuse from someone they’re in a relationship with before becoming adults. Many teens who experience unhealthy relationships often carry these unhealthy patterns into future adult relationships.

How you can talk to your teen about Teen Dating Violence

Talking to teens about teen dating violence is crucial to promoting healthy relationships. Here are a few topics and tips to start the conversation on teen dating violence:

• Create a positive connection to the issue by discussing green flags in relationships. Talking about positive characteristics in relationships helps to lighten the mood on a difficult subject.
• Discussing the warning signs of dating abuse. Include emotional, sexual, and physical abuse. It is important to emphasize abuse happens in multiple forms. 
• Empower them to trust their instincts. If they are uncomfortable about a situation, encourage them to speak up by fostering a non judgmental environment.
• Talk about the media and how it portrays healthy vs. unhealthy relationships. Many TV shows, movies, and books portray abusive behaviors, like stalking, as “romantic” or harmless, when in reality, they are very dangerous behaviors.

For more information and resources about Teen Dating Violence, you can visit loveisrespect.org.