JACKSON, Miss. – February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. Attorney General Jim Hood says it is important for youth to establish healthy relationships at a young age.
“With the alarming statistic that more than half of the teen population know someone involved in a violent relationship, we can reasonably conclude that either your child or one of their peers has been or will be affected by teen dating violence,” Hood said. I believe that educating teens and their parents about the risk factors and warning signs is one key to preventing abuse.”
According to a U.S. Department of Justice survey, one in three teens experiences some kind of abuse in their romantic relationships, including verbal and emotional abuse.
Hood said there are some red flags that may be an indication of abuse in a dating relationship. They include:
- withdrawal from family or friends
- depression
- mood swings
- unexplained injuries
- becoming fearful or anxious of their boyfriend/girlfriend’s reactions.
For more information, you can download a free brochure called Dating Violence from the websitewww.agjimhood.com.
