What red flags you should watch out for that show signs of teen dating violence
According to Faith House two out of three teens will experience teen dating violence.
LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY)-- February right around the corner, and while that month is viewed as the month of love with Valentine's Day, it is also Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month.
News 10 spoke with Sgt. Robin Green of the Lafayette Police Department who shared what red flags you should watch out for.
According to Faith House two out of three teens will experience teen dating violence.
"Teen dating violence basically affects millions of teenagers each year, and so this type of situation basically affects their health and well-being," Green said.
Green said school resource officers are there to help with teen dating violence. Faith House said people between the ages of 12 and 19 will experience dating violence.
"We want these individuals to feel comfortable and safe to be able to approach those school resource officers and let them know what's going on and that way, we can better help them," Green said.
Green said there are four types of teen dating violence — that is physical, sexual, psychological aggression and stalking.
"When it's not a safe relationship, a lot of times the abuser will want you to engage in unwanted activities such as sex, drugs, drinking," Green said. "If an individual truly loves you, they're not going to ask you to do things that you really don't want to take part in."
Green said to be aware of red flags such as sudden outbursts of anger, insecurities and isolation.
"They groom their victims to make them see, look, I'm the only person that you need and you don't need those other individuals," Green said.
"It's no different than whether you're an adult or a teenager," she added. "The pattern is still the same and so we would like to tell parents to always have that open line of communication with their kids. Don't be afraid to establish that dialog and talk to their kids."
If you know someone who needs help contact law enforcement and report it. Teenagers can contact a school resource officer, a counselor or a parent.
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