A Guide for Teens – Anger, Violence, and Abuse: Silence hurts, Let’s Talk

 Violence in Relationships

       1 in 7 children in Ontario is exposed to family violence in their homes. At least 1 in 5 high school students reports involvement in an abusive dating relationship.

Relationships

Healthy Relationships

• Being able to care for another

• Sharing activities

• Sharing self openly – thoughts and feelings

• Having respect for your partner

Unhealthy Relationships

• Not free to meet other people

• Increased feelings of ownership or belonging to someone else

• Falling into strict stereotypes

• Blaming other for his/her actions

Warning signs of an abusive relationship

Does your partner…

• Restrict your interactions with others – is very JEALOUS

• Continually criticize what you wear

• Continually put you down

• Want to know your whereabouts at all times

• Embarrasses you in front of other people

• Get “carried away” during horseplay and hurt you or hold you down and make you feel helpless until you give in or feel humiliated

• Become very angry at trivial things

• Have traditional ideas about men and women roles

• Force you to do a sexual act that you don’t feel ready to do: by physical force, put downs, threats, intimidations or pressuring

• Make threats to harm you/family/pets or friends

• Threatens to kill self if you don’t comply with him/her

How to help

       If you witness a friend being abused or if a friend tells you that they are being abused in a relationship…

• Listen calmly and take the concerns seriously

• Reassure your friend that nobody deserves to be abused

• Support your friend in looking at the risks of more abuse

• Suggest talking to a trusted adult such as a teacher, guidance counselor or school psychologist or call one of the agencies listed on this web site

• Realize the situation will not change over night

| Are You Being Abused?| Community support services |
| A Guide For Teens | Publications |