CULLMAN, Ala. – Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs proclaimed the month of February 2022 “Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month” (TDVAM) in the City of Cullman on Wednesday. On hand to accept the official proclamation was Pam Brown, outreach coordinator with Victim Services of Cullman, Inc.
“Teen dating violence is something that we deal with at Victim Services,” said Pam Brown. “We appreciate the City helping us to raise awareness of this issue.”
Dating violence is more common than most may think, especially among teens and young adults. Studies show that one in three teens in the U.S. will experience physical, sexual or emotional abuse from someone they’re in a relationship with before they become adults, and nearly half of college women report experiencing violent or abusive dating behaviors.
The month of February is set aside across the country as a time to raise awareness about the issue of teen dating violence through Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month (TDVAM). The focus of TDVAM is on advocacy and education to stop dating abuse before it starts. The theme for TDVAM 2022 is “Talk About It.” Talk About It is a call to action to young people and those who support them to engage in meaningful conversations about healthy relationships and navigate what may be unhealthy or even abusive.
The website https://www.loveisrespect.org/ has tips on how to tell if a relationship is healthy, unhealthy or abusive.
A healthy relationship means both you and your partner are:
- Communicating
- Respectful
- Trusting
- Honest
- Equal
- Enjoying personal time away from each other
- Making mutual choices
- Economic/financial partners
You may be in an unhealthy relationship if your partner is:
- Not communicating
- Disrespectful
- Not trusting
- Dishonest
- Trying to take control
- Only spending time together
- Pressured into activities
- Unequal economically
Abuse is occurring in a relationship when one partner is:
- Communicating in a hurtful or threatening way
- Mistreating
- Accusing the other of cheating when it’s untrue
- Denying their actions are abusive
- Controlling
- Isolating their partner from others
Teens who find themselves in unhealthy or abusive dating relationships have a place to turn to for help. The Teen Dating Abuse Hotline is 866-331-9474. They can also go to the website https://www.loveisrespect.org/ to text, call or chat with someone who can help. The site also has many resources regarding dating, healthy relationships, personal safety and more.
“Thank you to Victim Services for adding ‘Teen Dating Violence’ to the list of issues that they seek to bring awareness and assistance to,” said Mayor Jacobs. “The folks at Victim Services are such a great help to so many people in our community!”
To find out more about Victim Services of Cullman, Inc., visit https://www.victimservices.online/ or call 256-775-2600.
To find out more about TDVAM, visit https://www.loveisrespect.org/ or call the administrative line at 737-225-3150.
