The relationships you have in your youth help form the foundations for relationships later in life. It is important to understand what makes a relationship healthy, unhealthy, abusive or somewhere in between. Visit the links below to learn all about dating and relationships and access support.
The nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization, the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline, in partnership with over 1,000 rape crisis centers nationwide, providing free, confidential advice 24/7. RAINN also operates the National Sexual Assault online hotline, offers resources regarding sexual assault education for victims and loved ones, locating counseling centers and much more.
Teens that experience dating abuse are unlikely to report but are at a greater risk to respond by engaging in other risk behaviors. Break the Cycle works to provide preventative dating and domestic violence education and outreach to teens and young adults who experience, or are concerned, about dating violence. It’s important to talk about dating abuse because everyone deserves a healthy relationship
Relationships can be healthy, unhealthy, abusive or in between. LoveisRepect.org explores what dating should look like. Here, you can learn how to prevent, recognize and escape unhealthy relationships. They offer information regarding why people abuse, types of abuse and digital abuse. If you or your friend is in an unhealthy/abusive relationship, they have resources to help you stay safe, build support and access legal protection.
Love Is Not Abuse is a campaign committed to stopping teen dating abuse, and engaging everyone in promoting healthy relationships. They run by Break the Cycle, and associated with NO MORE and the National Dating Abuse Helpline.
Your mobile, IM and online accounts are a part of your identity. If someone you’re dating is controlling, disrespecting or pressuring you in those spaces, that’s not cool. Here you can learn where to draw your digital lines, how to deal with pressures and create a digital avatar to have your say about what is and what is not okay regarding textual harassment, peer pressure, privacy problems, rumors and more.
The Joyful Heart Foundation works to heal, educate and empower survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse and shed light on the darkness that surrounds the issues. You are not alone. Visit this site if you or someone you know needs help.