According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in ten teenagers nationwide reported that they had been physically abused in a relationships and one in four teens are physically, emotionally, verbally or sexually abused each year.
Director of student services Cindy Blakeley said she hopes a nationwide program she is bringing to Marshall, Dating Abuse Stops Here, will help students become aware of little known statistics like these and what to do if they find themselves in an unhealthy relationship. Blakeley plans to bring speakers from DASH to talk about the risks, warning signs and real stories of young adults in unhealthy relationships.
“I think dating is an exceptional, important part of development,” Blakeley said. However, she added that abusive relationships are “something to really talk about.”
Although Blakeley said she does not think abusive dating is a problem at Marshall, she “felt it was really powerful and important for kids and people to hear.”
According to the CDC, “unhealthy, abusive or violent relationships can cause short term and long term negative effects or consequences to the developing teen.”
Blakeley said that although grades can remain unaffected, school work is often influenced by abusive relationships.
“By and large, if you are in a pretty unhealthy relationship—no matter who that relationship is with—it is hard to completely get yourself to focus in school,” Blakeley said.
Dealing with an abuse relationship can be difficult, Blakeley said.
“The hardest part can be asking for help,” assistant principal Jeanene Sims said.
Both Blakeley and Sims agreed though that the first steps a student should take is to talk to his or her parent or school counselor. Blakeley said that although unhealthy relationships can be obvious when she is talking to students, teens may have difficultly either recognizing or healing from an abusive situation. The speakers from DASH “have a story to tell and that puts a face to situations,” she said.
Blakeley and Sims said educating students early is important. Due to issues with booking enough space for multiple classes, it is likely that only seniors will get to go to the presentation, Blakeley said.
“College is a place where there is much more freedom,” she said. “I would like them to be prepared, armed with some information.”
“It’s good to bring those things out front and talk about them,” Blakeley said. “[We can] not wonder if someone will get that message or wonder if it is getting better.”