February is national teen dating violence awareness month.
Heather Severson, Co-Founder of TraJa joined us on Wisconsin Tonight to talk about teen dating violence.
According to a 2011 CDC nationwide survey, 23% of females and 14% of males who ever experienced rape, physical violence, or stalking by an intimate partner, first experienced some form of partner violence between 11 and 17 years of age.
Teen dating violence is defined as the physical, sexual, psychological, or emotional violence within a dating relationship, including stalking. It can occur in person or electronically and might occur between a current or former dating partner. Several different words are used to describe teen dating violence.
Below are just a few.
-Relationship abuse
-Intimate partner violence
-Relationship violence
-Dating abuse
-Domestic abuse
-Domestic violence
Youth who experience dating violence are more likely to experience the following:
-Symptoms of depression and anxiety
-Engagement in unhealthy behaviors, such as tobacco and drug use, and alcohol
-Involvement in antisocial behaviors
-Thoughts about suicide
For more information about TraJa and resources available, click here.
