Monthly Mental Health Tip
February Mental Health Tip
​February is the month where we observe Teen Dating Violence Prevention and Awareness. Teen dating violence encompasses actions and behaviors that are abusive in a dating relationship. One caveat in teen dating violence that differs from interpersonal violence that we associate with adult abusive relationships, is cyber or online abuse. This cyber abuse encompasses monitoring a dating partner's activity on social media and online platforms, wanting access to a partner's password on social media and online platforms, and controlling who a partner can be friends with and/or follow on social media platforms. Teen dating violence also encompasses the physical and emotional violence we see present in interpersonal violence.​
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Mental Health Tip: ​
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Parents educate your teens on what a healthy relationship looks like.
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Parents and teens ensure that a teen is mature enough to handle dating before engaging in a dating relationship.
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Parents and teens educate yourself on what teen dating violence is and the signs of an abusive dating relationship.
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Sites like https://www.loveisrespect.org/ and https://www.breakthecycle.org provide resources for parents and teens on teen dating violence.
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Check out the tip sheets created for George Mason University on teen dating violence: