February is teen dating  violence  awareness month and the Revolution team at CHS is helping spread awareness about some shocking statistics.

According to loveisrespect.org, nearly 1.5 million high school students nationwide experience physical abuse from a dating partner in a single year. One in three adolescents in the U.S. is a victim of physical, sexual, emotional or verbal abuse from a dating partner, a figure that far exceeds rates of other types of youth violence. One in 10 high school students has been purposefully hit, slapped or physically hurt by a boyfriend or girlfriend. Violent behavior typically begins in people aged 12-18.

Violent behavior doesn’t end in high school. Nearly half of college women. College students are not equipped to deal with dating abuse – 57% say it is difficult to identify and 58% say they don’t know how to help someone who’s experiencing it.

Dating violence has long-lasting effects on people. Half of youth who have been victims of both dating violence and rape attempt suicide, compared to 12.5% of non-abused girls and 5.4% of non-abused boys. Only 33% of teens who were in a violent relationship ever told anyone about the abuse.

We may not think that these things happen in our school, but the scary reality is that they do. Abusive relationships don’t just have to be physical or sexual. In fact, emotional abuse is really common in abusive relationships. Spread kindness this month and always! If you or someone you know is in an unhealthy relationship, talk to a Revolution member or call the Center for Survivors. #orange4love #teenDVmonth