Friday, October 29, 2010

Teen Dating Violence

Violence against women has been an issue for years, but another type of violence that also occurs that many people do not recognize is teen dating violence. Teen dating violence occurs among teenagers more often that you would think, and it can occur in heterosexual relationships as well as homosexual relationships. It is not always physical either. Teen dating violence can also take other forms, such as verbal, emotional, or even sexual abuse. Some of the highest rates of relationship violence occur among young women between the ages of sixteen and twenty-four. The statistics are pretty outstanding. Approximately one in five high school girls report being abused by a boyfriend. Twelve percent of high school students report experiencing some type of dating violence; male and females. Victims of dating violence are more likely to have depression, anxiety, and thoughts of suicide. There are numerous crisis hotlines and support groups for teens that are victims of this type of abuse. There are also numerous legal options that include reporting this to the police, obtaining protective orders, and just cooperating with criminal prosecution. Victims are normally afraid to come to the police, so that is why there are numerous options available for people to get the help they need while keeping things confidential.

Reference

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