Safety Planning for Teens in Abusive Dating Relationships
| The following are tips you might think about to increase your safety :
General Safety
� Stay in touch with your friends; and, make it a point to spend time with people other than your partner. � Stay involved in activities that you enjoy. Don�t stop doing things that you enjoy or that make you feel good about yourself. � Make new friends. Increase your support network. � Take self-defense class. � Consider looking into resources at your school or in the community. Think about joining a support group or calling a crisis line.
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| Being a Friend to a Victim of Abuse
� If you notice a friend is in an abusive relationship, don�t ignore signs of abuse. Talk to your friend.
� Express your concerns. Tell your friend your worried. Support, don�t judge. � Point out your friends strengths� many people in abusive relationships are no longer capable of seeing their own abilities and gifts. � Encourage them to confide in a trusted adult. Talk to a trusted adult if you believe the situation is getting worse. Offer to go with them for help. � Never put yourself in a dangerous situation with the victim�s partner. Don�t be a mediator. � Call the police if you witness an assault. Tell an adult - a school principal, parent, guidance counselor.
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| What You Can Do
� Start a peer education program on teen dating violence. � Create bulletin boards in the school cafeteria or classroom to raise awareness.
� Perform a play about teen dating violence.
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