What is a healthy relationship?
You're both respectful of each other and your boundaries.
There is a strong sense of trust between you.
You openly discuss everything and listen carefully to each other.
You keep your own identity within the relationship and so does your partner.
You spend quality time together doing things that are mutually fulfilling as well as quality time apart doing what is important to you individually.
You encourage each other to grow.
You inspire each other to be a better person.
You respect each other's differences.
You share realistic expectations for the relationship.
You and your partner honor each other’s family ties and friendships.
Seriously though:
Every day about 360 teens are treated in emergency departments for assault injuries.
Teen dating abuse affects nearly 1.5 million high school students nationwide in a single year or 1 in 3 teens.
Teen Violence lasts a lifetime, even long after the abuse ends. Memories of the abuse remain, possible physical disfigurement, or even death. Friends and family may also carry emotional scars.
Homicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among teens.
Female teens are more likely than males to experience three or more types of violence.
Forms of violence: emotional, physical, cyberbullying, and sexual
Violence can impact school attendance and access to community support services.
Directly engaging teens about preventing violence help them:
Make healthy choices.
Become a leader and voice for change for healthier communities and schools.
Promote respect and empathy with family, friends, and peers.