Why It Matters

Each of the partners supporting Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month believe that every young person deserves a safe and healthy relationship, no matter who they are or who they love.

A Silent Epidemic

We are living in a world where one in three students report experiencing some form of abuse, and more than 2/3 never report that abuse to a caring adult. A world where young people in more than 35 states still lack unfettered access to legal protection or other assistance to end an abusive relationship. A world where over 80% of school counselors report being unprepared to address incidents of abuse. This tells us – dating abuse isn't just a big issue. It's a growing epidemic.

The Effect of Dating Violence

Less attention to academics. Increased exposure to drugs and alcohol. A greater likelihood of teen pregnancy. Growing isolation. Sexual assault. Even one of these things can have a profound impact on the physical, social and emotional growth of a young person. Together, they create a perfect storm that not only affects the victim of abuse, but their friends, families, schools and surrounding communities. 

And it goes beyond preventing the actual violence. Parents need to feel comfortable talking to their kids about these issues. Schools need to take steps to become better prepared to address incidents on campus. Communities need to rise up and say NO MORE.

Thankfully, there are so many examples of where we’re getting it right, where we’re really making an impact. With your help, we can all work together to ensure that everyone knows this is a big issue.

Need Help?

Do you have questions about your relationship? About a friend's? Visit loveisrespect and you'll find interactive quizzes, information on all your relationships quizzes and the ability to speak to a trained peer via chat, text or phone, 24/7. Or call 671-477-5552, the National Dating Abuse Hotline at 1-866-331-9474 or the National Domestic Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)

If you're experiencing abuse, contact:

  

 

Online/Digital Relationships

Social networking sites, like Facebook, Twitter and Tumbler allow you to stay in connected with your friends and increase your social circle. But they can also allow others to monitor your life and use information to hurt you. And because you provide personal information on profiles, blogs, and message boards, these sites may possibly be very dangerous.

It is important to wise and have healthy relationships, whether they are with people you know in person or online. When people talk about using social networking sites safely, they usually focus on strangers or predators. But you are just as likely to be harassed or abused online by someone you know. There are ways to have fun online and stay safe at the same time.

                         Don’t do or say anything online you won’t say in person.

                         Only post things you are okay with people seeing and knowing. Phone numbers and addresses

                        will let people contact you directly, things like school and team names, landmarks and photos

                        may also make it easier for people to find out where you live, hang out or go to school.

                         Remember, it’s not just about you. If you post information or photos about your friends or family,

                         they can be at risk.

                         Don’t respond to harassing, abusive or negative comments. It won’t make the person stop and it

                         could get you in trouble or put you in danger.

                         Use the privacy preferences to keep your page as private as you can.

                         If you are in or coming out of a dangerous relationship, don’t use any form of technology to

                        contact your abuser. It can be dangerous and may be used against you in the future.

                         Save or keep a record of all harassing or abusive messages, posts, and comments in case you

                         decide to tell the police or get a protective order.

                         Never give your passwords to anyone other than your parent or guardian. It’s a good idea to

                         choose passwords that aren’t easy to guess, do not use the same password for all your accounts,

                         and to change passwords regularly.

                         It may seem crazy, but if the abuse and harassment will not stop, changing your username and

                         email address may be your best choice.

                         Always report inappropriate behavior to the site administrators.

                         Trust your instincts! If you think something is wrong or are feeling threatened, tell someone who

                         can help. 

Most teenagers do not experience physical aggression when they date. However, for some teens, abuse is a very real part of dating relationships (Teen Dating Violence: A Closer Look at Adolescent Romantic Relationships, National Institute of Justice, 2008). Studies investigating the effectiveness of programs to prevent dating violence are beginning to show positive results. Most programs focus on changing knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors linked with dating violence and also address the skills needed to build healthy relationships. In one rigorous National Institute of Justice-funded study, for example, school-level interventions reduced dating violence by up to 50 percent in 30 New York City public middle schools (Prevention and Intervention of Teen Dating Violence, National Institute of Justice). The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) defines dating violence as follows: violence committed by a person who is or has been in a social relationship of a romantic or intimate nature with the victim and where the existence of such a relationship shall be determined based on a consideration of the following factors: The length of the relationship. The type of relationship. The frequency of interaction between the persons involved in the relationship. From 2004 through 2009, Congress designated the first full week in February as National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week. Beginning in 2010, the U.S. Department of Justice worked with the Senate to designate the entire month of February as National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. To help bring greater awareness to the dangers of teen dating violence, NCJRS shares with you the Teen Dating Violence Special Feature, an online compilation of publications and resources on the topic. PublicationsTeen Dating Violence: Co-Occurrence With Other Victimizations in the National Survey of Children's Exposure to Violence (NatSCEV) Sponsored by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, 2012 Teen Dating Violence: A Literature Review and Annotated Bibliography Sponsored by the National Institute of Justice, 2011 Understanding Teen Dating Violence Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012 More Publications Related ResourcesCenters for Disease Control and Prevention: Teen Dating Violence National Institute of Justice: Teen Dating Violence The White House: 1 is 2 Many More Related Resources

What are the symptoms of Tuberculosis?

Most people who become infected with the bacteria that cause tuberculosis actually do not present symptoms of the disease. However, when symptoms are present, they include unexplained weight loss, tiredness, fatigue, shortness of breath, fever, night sweats, chills, and a loss of appetite. Symptoms specific to the lungs include coughing that lasts for 3 or more weeks, coughing up blood, chest pain, and pain with breathing or coughing.

How is Tuberculosis diagnosed?

Tuberculosis diagnosis usually occurs after a combination of skin, blood, and imaging tests. The most common diagnostic test is a simple skin test called the Mantoux test. The Mantoux test is made up of a small amount of purified protein derivative (PPD) tuberculin that is injected into the forearm. After 48 to 72 hours, a doctor or nurse looks for a reaction at the injection site. A hard, raised red bump usually indicates a positive test for TB. Blood tests may also be used to determine if the TB is active or inactive, and microscopic sputum analyses or cultures can find TB bacteria in the sputum. Chest x-rays and computer tomography (CT) scans are also used to diagnose TB. If the immune system traps the TB bacteria and creates scar tissue, this tissue and the lymph nodes may harden like stone. This results in a rounded marble-like scars that often appear on x-rays and CT scans. However, if these scars do not show any evidence of calcium on an x-ray, they can be difficult to distinguish from cancer .

Although anyone can get infected with TB, some people are at a higher risk, such as: 

                         Those who live with others who have active TB infections.

                         Poor or homeless people

                         Foreign-born people who come from countries with TB being common

                         Older people, nursing home residents, and prison inmates

                         Alcoholics and intravenous drug users

                         Those who suffer from malnutrition 

                         Diabetics, cancer patients, and those with HIV/AIDS or other immune system problems

                         Health-care workers

                         Workers in refugee camps or shelters 

Tuberculosis 101 

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that is caused by a bacterium (bac’te’ri’um) called  Mycobacterium (my’co’bac’te’ri’um) tuberculosis. TB mostly affects the lungs, but it can also affect organs in the central nervous system, lymphatic system, and circulatory system among others. The disease was called "consumption" in the past because of the way it would consume from within anyone who became infected.

When a person is infected with TB, the bacteria in the lungs multiply and along cause Pneumonia with chest pain, coughing up blood, and is always coughing. Also, lymph nodes near the heart and lungs become big. As the TB tries to spread to other parts of the body, it is often broken up by the body's immune system. The immune system forms scar tissue (fibrosis) around the TB bacteria, and this helps fight the infection and prevents the disease from spreading all over the body and to other people. If the body's immune system is not to fight TB or if the bacteria breaks through the scar tissue, the disease returns to an active state with pneumonia and damage to kidneys, bones, and the meningitis that line the spinal cord and brain.

TB is generally classified as being either inactive or active. Inactive TB occurs when the bacteria are present in the body, but this state is not active and shows no symptoms. Inactive TB is also not contagious. Active TB is contagious and is the condition that can make you sick with symptoms.

TB is a major cause of illness and death worldwide, especially in Africa and Asia. Each year the disease kills almost 2 million people. The disease is also common among people with HIV/AIDS.

(source: cdc.gov)

STDs and Teens:

Unfortunately, STDs have become common among teens. Because teens are more at risk for getting some STDs, it’s important to learn what you can do to protect yourself.

STDs are more than just an embarrassment. They are a serious health problem. If left untreated, some STDs can cause permanent damage, such as infertility (the inability to have a baby) and even death (in the case of HIV/AIDS).

One reason STDs spread is because people think they can only be infected if they have intimate body contact. That’s wrong. A person can get some STDs, like herpes or genital warts through skin-to- skin contact with an infected area or sore. The viruses or bacteria can also enter the body through tiny cuts or tears in the mouth and private parts.

STDs can also spread easily because you can’t tell whether someone has an infection. Some people with STDs don’t even know that they have them. These people are in danger of passing an infection on to their partners without even realizing it.

Five most common sexually transmitted diseases?

                        1. Syphilis

                        2. Chlamydia

                        3. Gonorrhea

                        4. Herpes

                        5. AIDS 

Preventing and Treating STDs

·       Abstain from all types of intimate body contact. 

·       Get regular check-ups with your doctor. Don't let embarrassment stop up from seeking medical attention. Waiting to see a doctor may allow disease to grow quicker and cause more damage. 

Not all infections in the private parts are caused by STDs. Sometimes people can get symptoms that  seem very like those of STDs, even though they've never had intimate contact. For girls, a yeast  infection can easily be confused with an STD. Guys may worry about bumps on their private part  that turn out to be pimples or irritated hair follicles. That's why it's important to see a doctor if  you ever have questions about your health.

Source from www.kidshealth.org/teen  

STDs 101  

STD– Sexually Transmitted Disease (also known as STIs-Sexually Transmitted Infections): Spread from  person to person through intimate contact. It can affect guys and girls of all ages and  backgrounds who are having intimate contact.

What the difference between STDs and STIs?

STDs or sexually transmitted disease, are diseases, viruses and parasites transmitted through fluid  exchange, or occurring through intimate contact between humans. Other names for STDs include venereal disease (VD) and sexually transmitted infections (STI). 

STIs or sexually transmitted infection is currently the preferred term as it includes a wide range of  diseases, including infections transmitted through the sharing of needles used for intravenously  injected drugs. Sexually transmitted infections can be passed from person to person without  showing any signs of infection or disease.