February is National Teen Dating Violence and Prevention Month Published Jan. 31, 2014 By Amia Watson 341st Medical Operations Squadron MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- Dating violence comes in many forms. It can be constant name calling and put downs, pressure to use alcohol or drugs, or demands to be constantly available. Pressure to have sexual contact and rape are not unusual. A common tactic is isolating the teen from friends, family and activities that don't include the abuser. Scratches, bruises and other marks are signs of physical abuse. Digital abuse includes constant texting and instant messaging, use of social media to intimidate and stalking through cellphones. The following are national teen dating violence statistics: 33 percent of female teens in dating relationships have feared for their safety 25 percent of female teens report having been pressured to go further sexually than they wanted 20 percent of female teens in a relationship say they have been hit or beaten by a boyfriend 40 percent of teen girls say they know someone their own age who has been hit or beaten by a boyfriend And most alarming of all is that 66 percent of teens tell no one Indicators a teen may be involved in an abusive relationship include unexplained physical injuries and changes in dress to cover injuries, making excuses for a partner and emotional outbursts. Falling grades, use of drugs or alcohol and changes in activities or friends can all be a cause for concern. Parents should also be looking for changes in mood or personality, the onset of depression/sadness or constant worrying about what the partner will think. Physical indicators may be changing the way they dress, wear their hair or talk to make their partner happy. What can parents do? Educate yourself about dating violence. Talk with your teen or preteen. Let them know you are aware of how prevalent dating violence is and how serious it is. Make sure your teen knows they can call you for a ride home without recrimination if they find themself in an uncomfortable position--even if alcohol or drugs are involved. Make sure you know where your teen is going, and with whom, and know the cellphone numbers of their friends. Most of all listen, and if your teen is telling you something is going wrong in their life, make the time to carefully listen. Resist the urge to offer advice or put down their boyfriend/girlfriend. That can make the teen defend him/her. Seek help from professionals. If you are interested in more information about helping your preteen or teen make healthy decisions, consider taking the Active Parenting of Teens class through the Family Advocacy Prevention Program. This class focuses on effective communication with your teen, developing courage/self-esteem and helping your teen learn to make good choices. The three primary concerns of all parents of preteens and teens are drugs, sexuality and violence. This class addresses these concerns. For more information, call 731-2161 or visit the following online resources: www.loveisrespect.org and www.loveisnotabuse.com.