Let’s Talk Teen Dating Violence awareness and prevention

Send us Fan MailDear Listeners,February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month. The aim of this observance is to highlight that intimate partner abuse occurs with youth and that awareness and education can help to prevent and address it. According to Youth.gov teen dating violence can be physical or emotional. Physical abuse or violence consist of pinching, hitting, shoving, or kicking, while emotional violence or abuse consist of threatening a partner or harming his or her sense of self-worth (youth.gov). Emotional abuse can include acts such as controlling behaviour, shaming, bullying (online, texting, and in person), intentionally embarrassing, etc. (Youth.gov). Bermuda, it is important to pay attention to our youth and their needs. Intimate partner violence is not isolated to adult relationships. It is our duty as a community to create an environment where we can provide our youth with the tools to learn and grow well. To this end education and awareness is key. This episode of Bermuda Health-Abets, a podcast where we discuss everything from A to Z on healthy living, is dubbed Let’s Talk Teen Dating Violence awareness and prevention. #EmpoweringInformingandMotivating Bermuda residents to live well.Our guests this episode are Courtney Simmons Sergeant at Vulnerable Person Unit (VPU) Crime Division, BPS; Kayla Simmons Domestic Abuse Liaison at Child and Family Services, and Center Against Abuse; and Kenton Trott Detective Inspector Vulnerable Person Unit (VPU) Crime Division, BPS. During this episode our guests talk about what defines teen dating violence, safe relationships/safe dating, the importance of early awareness, red flags or signs for teens and adults around them should watch out for, the role of social media and technology plays in teen dating violence, myths about teen dating violence, skills and values to to help teens build healthy respectful relationships, and more. This eye opening episode reminds us that intimate partner violence doesn't only occur in adult relations, but there are skills and values that we can teach our young people to help prevent teen dating violence. Bermuda, awareness is key.If you have a question you need answered or a topic you would like to hear on Bermuda Health-Abets email [email protected]. To listen to upcoming segments of Bermuda Health-Abets you can find us here on Facebook , on our YouTube Chanel @DepartmentofHealthBermuda Like and subscribe to the page, on Apple Podcast, or Spotify Podcast.Thank you for listening!Empowering, Informing  and Motivating Bermuda Residents to Live Well