SAFETY ALERT – If you are in danger, call or text 911.

Domestic and Sexual Violence Services supports programs that address teen dating violence (TDV), which is behavior that harms a current or former dating partner. This can include physical, emotional, sexual, financial, and digital harm and can happen between people of any gender or sexuality. It might look like:

• Beating, hitting, kicking, or shoving you or people or pets you care about
• Keeping you trapped or not letting you leave a room
• Going through your phone or social media accounts
• Stopping you from participating in your hobbies, interests, or extracurriculars 
• Lying about things you have said or done or telling you things about yourself that are not true
• Never paying for activities you do together or making you pay for everything
• Forcing or guilting you into doing sexual things you do not want to do or which make you uncomfortable
• Putting pressure on your neck or chest to make it hard for you to breathe
• Misgendering you or calling you by the wrong name or pronouns as if your identity doesn’t matter

Teens who experience dating violence in their relationship(s) may also experience mental and physical health concerns and/or domestic violence in future relationships. However, reaching out for support can help prevent them from becoming long-term effects.